[ExcK,  in  tne  86tn  year  or  ms  age. 

leral,  Saturday  at  eleven  o'clocJ:,  at  the 

sburg  Presbyterian  Churcli. 


NCk.— On  Dec.  2nd,  Sakah,  wife   of  Mr 
iel  11.  Schenck,of  Jameaburg,  aged  75  yea 
(nths. 


t3,V 


^ 


jc^..^e^^  ^yii^s^ 


THE 


EVENING    OF    LIFE. 


EVENING   OF   LIFE; 


LIGHT  AND   COMPORT 


AMIDST    TH] 


SHADOWS   OF   DECLINING  YEARS 

B  e 
REV.  JEREMIAH  CHAPLIN,  D.D. 


THE  HOART  BEAD  IS  A  CROWN  OF  GLORT,  IF  IT  BE  FOITHD  IN  THE 
WAT  OF  RIGHTEO0SNESS.  — PrOV.  XVI.  31. 


A    NEW    EDITION, 

BEVISED    AND    MUCH    ENLARG 


^RV  OF  PRI«Cf^ 

APR    11  2001 
BOSTON:      X^W  06  !C  AL  SElA^*^ 


GOULD      AND       LINCOLN 

59    WASHINOTOK     STREET. 

NEW    YORK:    SHELDON      AND    COMPANY. 
CINCINNATI :   GEORGE  S.  BLANCHARD. 

1867. 


MOTHEK'S  WAY. 

Oft  within  our  little  cottage 

As  the  ehadowB  gently  fall, 
While  the  eunrght  lightly  touches 

One  Bweet  face  nprtn  the  wall  - 
Do  we  gather  close  tog«  ther. 

And  in  hashed  and  tender  tone 
Ask  each  o  her's  fnll  f or^jivenees 

For  the  wrong  that  each  has  done. 
Should  you  wonder  why  this  custom 

A.t  the  ending  of  the  day. 
Bye  and  voice  would  quickly  answer, 

•'It  was  once  our  mother's  way." 
If  our  h:>m   be  bright  and  cheery. 

If  it  hold*  a  welcome  true, 
Opening  wide  its  door  of  greeting 

To  the  many— not  the  few; 
If  we  share  our  father  s  bounty  , 

With  the  needy  day  by  day, 
'Tis  because  our  hearts  remember 

This  was  ever  mother's  way. 
Sometimes  when  our  hands  grow  weary, 

Or  our  taekt»  seem  very  long ; 
When  our  burdens  lo  k  too  heavy, 

And  we  deem  the  right  all  wrong- 
Then  we  ga'n  anew  fresh  courage,  '  g^^gg^  in  the  year  1858,  by 

And  we  rise  to  proudly  say :  r  t  ^  r  o  T,  N 

-Let  us  do  our  duty  bravely;  LINCOL^, 

This  was  our  dear  mother's  way."  -t  for  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 

Thus  we  keep  her  memorylpreciouB. 

While  we  never  cease  to  pray 
That  at  last,  when  letgtheniDg  shadows 

Mark  the  evening  of  our  day, 

They  may  find  us  waiiii  g  calmly 

To  go  home  our  mothers  way. 

-»  •  »■ 


THIS     SLIGHT     OFFERING     OF     AFFECTIOP! 

TS     INSCRIBED, 

WITH   THE    FERVENT    PRATER   THAT    THE 

EVENING    OF    HER    LIFE 

•     JTA7      BE      AS      HAPPY      AS      ITS      DAV 

HAS    BEEN   USEFUI* 


LITTLE  LORD  JESUS. 


Away  in  a  manger,  no   crib  for  a 

bed, 
The  little  Lord  Jesus  laid  down  his 

sweet  head.  . 
The  stars  In  the  bright  sky  looked 

down  where  he  lay. 
The  little  Lord  Jesus  asleep  on  the 

bay. 

The    cattle    are    lowing,    the    baby 

awakes, 
But  little  Lord  Jesus,  no  crying  he 

makes. 
I  love  thee.  Lord  Jesus.    Look  down 
from  the  sky 
|>    And  stay  by  my  cradle  till  morning 
is  high. 

—Martin  Luther. 


OE. 


This  unprefending  volume  is  designed  to  meet  what 
is  believed  to  be  an  actual  deficiency.  While  nume- 
rous voices  are  speaking  through  the  press  to  the 
young  and  the  middle-aged  of  either  sex,  those  who 
have  passed  the  meridian  of  life  are,  with  rare  excep- 
tions, left  unnoticed — one  proof,  at  least,  that  among 
the  virtues  of  this  age  is  not  to  be  numbered  a  due 
honoring  of  the  hoary  head. 

But  if  the  young  need  counsel,  the  aged  need 
consolation.  With  them  the  day  of  life  is  far  spent, 
and  the  evening  shadows  have  begun  to  fall,  or  are 
deepening  into  night. 

We  have,  ther  ''  e,  deemed  it  a  pious  office  as  well 
as  pleasing,  to  entei',  as  far  as  our  experience  and 
observation  would  enable  us,  within  that  world  of 
thought  and  feeling,  joys  and  sorrows,  hopes  and  fears, 
where  the  aged  dwell,  and,  in  the  light  of  divirie 
revelation,  to  look  out  from  their  own  point  of  view 
upon  the  Past  and  Future,  that  from  both  we  might 
gather  incentives  to  the  exercise  of  gratitude  and 
praise,  confidence  and  hope.  And  that  our  offering  of 
love  might  be  more  worthy  of  their  regard,  we  have 
interwoven  with  our  own  humble  thoughts  and  affec- 
tionate sympathies,  the  reflections  of  the   wise    and 


VIII  PREFACE. 

good  of  the  present  and  other  times ;  in  many  cases, 
the  fruit  of  a  long  life's  experience. 

While,  in  our  attempts  thus  to  cheer  the  evening  of 
life,  we  have  not  overlooked  such  sources  of  innocent 
happiness  as  our  gracious  Father  has  opened  for  the 
aged  as  well  as  for  the  young,  in  the  present  world,  it 
has  been  our  chief  delight  to  break  for  them  that  pre- 
cious box  which  is  fragrant  with  the  name  of  Jesus, 
and  whose  sweet  perfume  is  so  reviving  to  the  soul. 

The  hope  that  this  humble  volume  might  be  wel- 
comed by  those  who  are  approaching  or  have  reached 
the  autumn  and  winter  of  their  days,  and  by  others 
for  their  sakes,  has  made  the  task  of  preparation  a 
pleasant  one ;  and  if  it  shall  bring  light  and  comfort 
to  a  single  dwelling,  or  shall  lead  one  impenitent 
sinner,  even  at  the  eleventh  hour,  to  apply  his  heart 
unto  wisdom,  it  will  not  have  gone  forth  on  its  errand 
of  love  in  vain. 

It  may  be  proper  to  add,  that  this  volume  has  been 
so  prepared  that  it  may  be  hailed  as  a  friend  in  the 
family  of  any  Christian  denomination. 

And  while  it  is  specially  designed  for  the  benefit  of 
the  aged,  it  may  form  an  appropriate  gift  from  a  sod 
or  daughter  to  parents  who  have  but  just  passed  the 
noon  of  life,  as  it  shows  how  that  evening  season, 
within  whose  shades  they  must  soon  enter,  may  be 
made  bright  and  peaceful. 

To  the  favor  of  Him,  whose  Word  so  often  speaks 
the  language  of  tender  sympathy  for  the  aged,  is  this 
our  labor  of  love  commended,  with  the  prayer  that  His 
blessing  may  go  with  it,  and  cause  it  to  brighten  their 
pathway  to  his  immediate  presence. 


PREPACE 

TO    THE 

NEW,     ENLARGED     EDITION. 


In  now  committing  this  work  —  truly  a  work 
of  love  —  to  the  Publishers  whose  well-known 
names  appear  upon  the  title-page,  I  would  anew 
bespeak  for  it  a  kind  welcome  in  the  households 
of  the  land.  I  may  say,  without  boasting,  that 
it  has  been  to  me  a  great  joy  to  learn  numerous 
cases  where  this  unpretending  volume  has  come 
as  a  messenger  of  peace.  With  gratitude  to 
God  for  his  blessing  upon  it  in  the  past,  and  in 
the  hope  that  it  may  please  Him  to  make  it  the 
means  of  cheering  and  strengthening  yet  othei 
hearts,  I  would  now  again,  and  in  a  form  some- 
what improved  and  much  enlarged,  send  it  fortl 

on  its  mission  of  love.  ,  ^ 

J.  \j. 

Boston,  Dec.  6,  1858. 

1* 


CONTENTS. 


PROSE. 

The  Hoary  Head  a  Crown  of  Glory Bishop  Hall,  1 

The  Old  Man's  Soliloquy  at  the  different  Seasons  of  the 

Year Original,  3 

Prayer  for  Usefulness  in  Old  Age Hill,  14 

Zachariah  and  Elizabeth,  or  the  Aged  Pair Original,  16 

The  Wife's  Death Lamartine,  23 

Light  in  Darkness Vinet,  24 

The  Present  and  the  Future Fenelon,  27 

The  Cross  of  Christ Rutherford,  27 

Christ  and  His  Cross Rutherford,  29 

Salvation  by  Christ Hill,  29 

Rowland  Hill  In  his  Old  Age Life  of  H.  More,  30 

DyingtoSelf Berridge,  32 

Vanity  of  Life Thomas  a  Kempis,  33 

Meditations  on  Death Thomas  a  Kempis,  34 

Warning  to  the  Afflicted Cecil,  34 

Christ  a  Living  Saviour Edwards,  35 

Benefit  of  Affliction Edwards,  35 

True  and  False  Religion Newton,  35 

The  Bible Romaine,  37 

Trials H.  More,  37 

Salmasius Pike,  37 

Blessedness  of  Heaven Thomas  a  Kempis,  38 

Elliot  in  his  Old  Age 39 

Prayer Jeremy  Taylor,  40 

Cloudy  Days Lucas,  41 

The  Christian  on  Earth  and  in  Heaven Bunyan,  42 

Death  of  Robert  Bruce Whitecross,  43 

The  Evening  of  Life 44 

God's  Mercy Jeremy  Taylor  45 

The  Goodness  of  God  the  Solace  of  the  Aged Leigh  ton,  46 

The  Whole  Family  in  Heaven  ana  Eartn Bunyan,  46 

Things  to  Remember Bunyan,  48 

Sanctification Madame  Guyon,  49 

Dying  Words  of  Payson Life  of  Payson,  51 

The  Afflicted  Believer Cecil,  52 

Benefit  of  Affliction Oberlin,  52 

Peace  of  Mind Frajicke,  54 

True  Wealth Carlvie,  5"^ 


XII  CONTENTS. 


Effeots  of  Grace Cecil,  55 

Anecdote  of  Dr.  Cogswell 56 

Trust  in  God Romaine,  57 

Sayings  of  John  Newton Whitecross,  58 

The  Christian  Pilgrimage Cecil,       "  59 

The  Land  of  Beulah Payson,  60 

The  Bruised  Reed Davies,  61 

Saints  of  Different  Degrees Bogatzky,  63 

Study  of  the  Bible Hopkins,  64 

Consolation  for  Sufferers Rutherford,  66 

Affliction  the  Portion  of  the  Saints Rutherford,  66 

Loss  of  Children Rutherford,  69 

Hope  amid  Trials Rutherford,  69 

The  BeUever's  Death Gill,  70 

Prayer Gurnall,  71 

Naomi— the  Widow  Comforted Original,  71 

Live  by  the  Day , Newton,  79 

Christ  an  Almighty  Saviour. Newton,  81 

Dependence  on  Christ Rutherford,  81 

Sketch  of  Mrs.  B.  of  B Original,  81 

The  Death  of  Believers ^ Edmondson,  90 

The  Bible VV.  R.  Williams,  93 

The  Bible Newton,  93 

The  Christian's  Prospect.   Newton,  94 

The  Believer  Awaiting  the  Coming  of  Christ Rutherford,  95 

The  Love  of  Christ  in  the  Sufferings  of  his  Children..  Original,  95 

The  Two  Wonders Pearce,  98 

To  an  Afflicted  Lady Rutherford,  98 

Thoughts  of  Heaven Bishop  Hall,  99 

Infancy,  Youth,  and  Age Bishop  Hall,  102 

The  Happiness  of  the  Christian Bishop  Hall,  104 

Lesson  of  Contentment W.  R.  WilUama  104 

The  Aged  Saint  a  Witness  for  God Original,  108 

Testimony  of  an  Aged  Christian Mrs.  Graham,  113 

The  Aged  and  Experienced  Christian Cecil,  114 

'F'he  Cross  of  Christ McLaurin,  115 

The  Beauty  of  HoUness Original,  ]  15 

Barzillai , Bible,  1 19 

Peace  in  Old  Age Original,  124 

Duties  and  Events Rutherford,  128 

The  Love  of  Christ Newton,  129 

God's  Faithfulness Rutherford,  131 

Dread  of  Death Martin,  131 

Importance  of  Exercise Original,  131 

Experience  of  an  Aged  Believer Newton,  138 

John  Newton  in  his  Old  Age Cecil,  139 

The  Aged  Serving  God M.  Henry,  143 

Do  Something Bishop  Hall,  144 

Right  Use  of  Wealth Bishop  Hall,  145 

*«efit  of  Affliction Mrs.  Ilawkes,  145 

fit  of  Affliction Newton,  4* 


CONTENTS.  XTIT 

Page 

The  Devout  Man Bishop  Hall,  147 

Human  Frailty Old  Humphrey,  148 

The  Glory  of  Heaven Owen,  148 

Relief  for  Wandering  Thoughts Owen,  149 

Which  is  the  Happiest  Season  1 Adams,  153 

Christ  the  Mediator M.Henry,  153 

Thoughts  of  God M.Henry,  154 

Father  and  his  Son W.Scott,  157 

Value  of  Religion H.Davy,  157 

Christ's  Love  to  his  People Bogatzky,  158 

Dissuasives  against  a  Murmuring  Spirit Mrs.  Hawkea,  159 

The  Disconsolate  Encouraged Mrs.  Hawkes,  160 

The  Peasant  on  the  Welsh  Mountains Fry,  162 

The  Bible Krummacher,  i63 

A  Lesson  of  Faith 165 

Baynham,  the  Martyr Lye,  166 

My  Father's  Grave D.  E.  Ford,  166 

Baxter's  Dying  Words Baxter,  168 

Benefit  of  Affliction Newton,  170 

The  Hospital  and  Palace Adam,  170 

Nearer  Home Newton,  170 

The  Good  Man's  Consolation M'Kerrow,  171 

Christ  a  Refiner's  Fire Adam,  172 

Submission  to  the.Will  of  God Rutherford,  173 

Comfort  in  Affliction Arrowsmith,  174 

The  Happy  Old  Man 177 

Friends  in  Heaven .* Baxter,  178 

The  Worldling  and  the  Christian 179 

The  Last  Days  of  Dr.  Watts  and  Mr.  Hervey 180 

The  Christian's  Prospect Nalton,  182 

Jesus  Lives Mrs.  Steele,  183 

Am  I  a  Christian? Original,  183 

Letter  to  an  Aged  Friend Rutherford,  191 

The  Experience  of  Newton Newton,  194 

The  Trembling  Christian M.Henry,  194 

The  Aged  Minister 196 

The  Aged  Believer's  Experience  and  Prospects Newton,  196 

The  Aged  and  the  Young  Christian Mrs.  Hawkes,  199 

The  Death  of  Christ Bunyan,  200 

Happiness  of  Heaven Payson,  201 

Wonders  of  Providence Rutherford,  205 

Cheerfulness Jeremy  Taylor,  207 

Spiritual  Affections Owen,  209 

Progress  of  Grace  in  the  Soul •. Islay  Bums,  211 

Christian  Experience Islay  Burns,  213 

Death  a  Blessing  to  the  Aged  Saint Bishop  Hall,  214 

FrailtyofAge ^. Blair,  2ie 

Death  a  Sleep T. Bishop  HaU,  216 

Benefit  of  Trials  i Newton,  219 

The  Christian's  Hope Newton,  220 

Complete  in  Christ * Rutherford,  22* 


XIV 


CONTENTS. 


Fear  of  Death Bishop  Hall, 

Death  a  Blessing  to  the  Christian Bishop  Hall 

Death  Vanquished p^ygon,        ' 

The  Hope  of  the  Christian Bishop  HaU, 

Death  Of  Banyan Biography  of  Bunyan, 

Death  of  "Standfast" Bunyan, 

^'^'^ H.W.Beecher, 

i^^^"°^«« Original, 

The  Vale  Of  Tears gp 

ChristaGuest gp^^,^^^ 

Christian's  Thoughts  of  Death H  W  Beecher 

Faith '  *      ■      *  ' 

Solitude i-ii,      .       ,  -r 

^  Chambers'  Journal, 

Excellency  of  Christ Spurgeon, 

Not  the  Only  Mourner Spurgeon, 

A  Beautiful  Old  Age Original, 

^'^^fl'^ N.P.Willis, 

tr  ^  .^t    '■^' Newark  Advertiser, 

How  to  be  Happier 

The  Christian  a  Stranger 

^^°!7f^^ *•^^^;;*;;"'^  ■;;;**;  Chambers' Journal, 

Christ  the  Foundation H.W.Beecher, 

Every  Man's  Life  a  Plan  of  God BushnelL 

TheHumanHeart p 

Two  in  Heaven 

Recognition  in  Heaven Baxter 

TheOtherSide Tifo    /t  •  u. 

T.  .      .    ^,  .  Life  of  Leighton, 

DymgmChrist ,j.^ 

Heaven's  Revelations H.W.Beecher, 

Ji^^^""« Carlyle, 

Worldly  Old  Man Tholuck, 

Aged  Sinners Tholuck, 

O^'i^g^ Tholuck 

That  Dear  Old  Soul Original 

The  Fruitful  Christian's  End .\"  Tholuck' 

Suffering  with  Christ '  Tholuck' 

The  Sympathy  of  Jesus ;.*;;;;  KrummLher, 

aVTT't: Rural  New  Yorker, 

A  Word  to  the  Unmarried Chambers' Joui-nal 

^<'^y^^^^^r H.W.Beecher, 

Heaven ttttttj      v 

„   -,   -  -  H.  W.  Beecher, 

God's  Mercy pi^^. 

^^''°God Lejgj^^^^^ 

f^^^'^^OOd jj^gj^j^^ 

God's  Infinity ^^^^^^ 

Christ  Everywhere 

The  Sinner's  Saviour []"[  Spurgeon, 

Members  One  of  Another Ruskin 

The  Beautiful  in  the  Good .'.**.,""  Ruskin' 

SDirituai  Beauty ;;;;;_';  ji     ' 


Page 
221 
222 

222 
223 
224 
227 
228 
229 
232 
232 
232 
233 
233 
235 
235 
235 
239 
241 

241 

242 

242 

243 

245 

246 

247 

248 

248 

249 

249 

249 

250 

250 

250 

251 

262 

262 

263 

264 

267 


270 
270 
270 
270 
271 
272 
272 
273 
273 


CONTENTS.  XV 

Page 

Vanity  of  Life Walter  Scott,  274 

Ueath  of  John  Foster Bayne,  275 

Vged  Believers Spurgeon,  276 

Death  of  Samuel  Budgett Bayne,  277 

A  Parting  Word Original,  280 

POETR  Y. 

Sonnet  on  his  Blindness Milton,  3 

The  Return  of  Youth Bryant,  15 

The  Aged Marguerite  St.  Leon  Loud  23 

Faith Andros,  28 

Charity Talfourd,  29 

Consolation Crabbe,  3J 

Glory  of  Prayer Cowper,  36 

The  Patriarch Tupper,  36 

Live  in  View  of  Death Bryant,  40 

Adieu,  my  Youth From  the  Italian,  42 

Song  of  Life Longfellow,  47 

Prayer  of  the  Aged • Barton,  54 

The  Aged  Comforter Sigourney,  56 

The  Flight  of  Time Knickerbocker  57 

The  Shore  of  Time H.F.Gould,  62 

The  Father's  Death Stebbing,  64 

Trust  in  God Wordsworth,  65 

The  Angel  of  Patience Whittier,  68 

Emblem  of  a  Departing  Saint Songs  for  the  Sabbath,     89 

Let  me  go,  for  the  Day  Breaketh Christian  Herald,  91 

Trust  in  God Young,  93 

Looking  Heavenward 101 

Days  Gone  By. Tupper,  102 

The  Hotir  of  Sorrow Hemans,  106 

Old  Age. Barton,  114 

The  Cypress  of  Ceylon Whittier,  121 

Love Morris,  152 

The  Song  of  Seventy Tupper,  155 

Old  Age Caroline  Gilman,  159 

Passing  under  the  Rod Mrs.  Dana,  162 

The  Old  Man's  Funeral Bryant,  168 

A  Thought  of  the  Past Sargent,  173 

Calm,  Peace,  and  Light ,  175 

Footsteps  of  Angels Longfellow,  175 

The  Christian's  Grave Rogers,  177 

Affliction  Sanctified Southey,  179 

The  Death  of  a  Friend Wills,  200 

YouthandAge Waller,  207 

Pleasures  of  Song Bethune,  208 

Christ's  Spirit  of  Forgiveness 216 

Song  of  Death Household  Words,  225 


XVI  CONTENTS. 

Page 

Blessed  are  they  that  Mourn Bryant,  234 

I  'm  Growing  Old Anonymous,  237 

Peace  in  God Harriet  Beecher  Stowe,  244 

The  Death  of  Moses Watts,  251 

Humility Montgomery,  269 

Evening-Time Montgomery,  271 

Song  of  the  Aged Grant,  274 

A  Broken  Vessel Steele,  276 

The  Border-Land 278 


TH  E 


EVENING    OF    LIFE. 


THE  HOARY  HEAD  A  CROWN  OF  GLORY. 

While  we  call  old  age  the  winter  of  our  life, 
we  must  beware  lest  we  derogate  from  the  bounty 
of  our  Maker,  and  disparage  those  blessings 
which  He  accounts  precious ;  amongst  which 
old  age  is  none  of  the  meanest. 

Had  He  not  put  that  value  upon  it,  would  He 
have  honored  it  with  His  own  style,  calling 
himself  the  "Ancient  of  Days?"  Would  He 
have  set  out  this  mercy  as  a  reward  of  obedience 
to  himself,  "  I  will  fulfil  the  number  of  thy  days  Y* 
and  of  obedience  to  our  parents,  "To  five  long 
in  the  land  ?"  Would  He  have  promised  it  as  a 
marvelous  savor  to  restored  Jerusalem,  now 
become  a  city  of  Truth,  that  "there  shall  yet  old 
men  and  old  women  dwell  in  the  streets  of 
Jerusalem,  and  every  man  with  his  staff  in  his 


2  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

hand  for  very  age?"  Would  He  else  have 
denounced  it  as  a  judgment  to  over-indulgent 
Eli,  "There  shall  not  be  an  old  man  in  thy 
house  for  ever  V  Far  be  it  from  us  to  despise 
that  which  God  doth  honor ;  and  to  turn  His 
blessing  into  a  curse. 

Yea,  the  same  God  who  knows  best  the  price 
of  His  own  favors,  as  He  makes  no  small  estima- 
tion of  age  Himself,  so  He  hath  thought  fit  to 
call  for  a  high  respect  to  be  given  to  it,  out  of  a 
holy  awe  to  himself:  "  Thou  shalt  rise  up  before 
the  hoary  head,  and  honor  the  face  of  the  old 
man,  and  fear  thy  God :  I  am  the  Lord." 
Hence  it  is  that  He  hath  pleased  to  put  together 
the  "  ancient"  and  the  "  honorable,"  and  has  told 
us  that  a  "  hoary  head  is  a  crown  of  glory,  if  it 
be  found  in  the  way  of  righteousness ;"  and  lastly, 
makes  it  an  argument  of  the  deplored  estate  of 
Jerusalem  that  "  they  favored  not  the  elders." — 
Bishop  Hall, 

Even  to  your  old  age  I  am  He;  and  even  to 
hoar  hairs  will  I  carry  you  :  I  have  made  and  T 
will  bear.  —  Isaiah  xlvi.  4. 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  3 

SONNET  ON  HIS  BLINDNESS. 

When  r  consider  how  my  hfe  is  spent 

Ere  half  my  days,  in  this  dark  world  and  wide, 

And  that  one  talent  which  is  death  to  hide, 

Lodged  with  me  useless,  though  my  soul  more  bent 

To  serve  therewith  my  Maker,  and  present 

My  true  account,  lest  he  returning  chide ; 

"  Doth  God  exact  day-labor,  light  denied  V* 

I  fondly  ask  :  But  Patience,  to  prevent 

That  murmur,  soon  replies,  "  God  doth  not  need 

Either  man's  work,  or  His  own  gifts  ;  who  best 

Bear  his  mild  yoke,  they  serve  him  best ;  His  state 

Is  kingly  ;  thousands  at  his  bidding  speed. 

And  post  o'er  land  and  ocean  without  rest ; 

They  also  serve  who  only  stand  and  wait:'— Milton. 

THE  OLD  MAN'S   SOLILOQUY  AT  THE  DIFFERENT 

SEASONS  OF  THE  YEAR. 

SPRING. 

The  winter  is  over,  and  I  am  glad  to  feel  the 
warm  sun  once  more,  and  the  soft  south  wind 
that  breathes  such  a  balmy  fragrance.  As  it  floats 
over  the  land,  it  whispers  gladness  and  hope  to 
man.  The  birds  follow  its  course,  warbling  their 
wild-wood  notes,  and  seeking  their  deserted  nests. 
How^  sweet  the  music  of  the  brook  that  glides 
noisily  down   the   hill-side,   rejoicing  to  be   free 


4  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

again.  The  children,  gay  and  happy,  are  run- 
ning to  find  the  earUest  flowers,  and  manhood, 
catching  the  inspiration  of  the  season,  seems  to 
resume  the  freshness  of  youth.     All  is  life  and 

But  here  am  I,  an  old  man,  in  the  winter  of 
my  days,  leaning  upon  my  staff  and  bending 
under  a  load  of  infirmity.  My  steps  are  slow 
and  trembhng.  Yet  I  was  young  once.  The 
memory  of  those  early  days  is  as  fresh  as  ever, 
and  it  warms  my  heart  to  think  of  them.  Then 
my  spirits  were  wild  and  joyous.  How  changed 
now !  But  I  would  not  be  young  again,  noi 
would  I  murmur  at  my  decay.  A  better  youth  is 
before  me,  free  from  the  folly  that  has  stained  the 
past.  And  somehow  I  feel  now  the  glow  of 
spring  within  my  heart.  Old  age  has  not  laid 
his  frosty  hand  on  that.  There  sings  a  free, 
gladsome  spirit — there  blooms  the  flower  of  hope. 
As  the  south  wind  now  blows  softly  upon  my 
cheek,  so  my  heart  feels  the  warm  breathings 
that  come  from  the  land  of  everlasting  spring, 
There  I  shall  dwell,  and  be  young  again.  This 
poor,  frail  body  shall  know  the  vigor  and  elasticity 
of  youth,  fashioned  like  unto  the  glorious  body 


THE       EVENING      OF      LIFE.  5 

of  my  Saviour.  Powerful  as  a  seraph,  I  shall 
then  rove  amid  the  beauties  of  that  heavenly 
Paradise.  I  shall  walk  with  white-robed  saints 
and  angels  on  the  banks  of  the  river  that  flows 
from  the  throne,  taste  the  fruit  of  the  tree  of  life 
that  grows  there,  and  converse  upon  the  high 
themes  of  providence  and  redemption ;  or  else 
sweep  through  space  to  do  the  will  of  my  Re- 
deemer. No  scorching  summer  shall  be  there, 
nor  chilling  winter,  but  an  eternal  spring ;  ever 
unfolding  new  beauty,  new  fragrance,  new  mel- 
ody. No  night  shall  be  there,  for  the  Lamb 
shall  be  the  light  thereof  The  soft  splendor  of 
his  glory  shall  be  reflected  from  every  face  and 
every  object. 

Blessed  Spring !  I  would  that  thy  breeze  were 
now  fanning  me.  But  I  bow  before  my 
Creator's  will,  cheerfully  waiting  for  my  change 
to  come.  A  few  more  days  in  the  desert,  and 
then  farewell  earth,  welcome  heaven ! 

SUMMER. 

The  high  sun  sends  down  his  hot  rays  upon 
the  earth.  The  buds  of  spring  have  burst  into 
flowers  and  fruit,  and  are  fast  ripening  amid  sijp- 


6  THE       EVENING      OFLIFE. 

shine  and  shower.  The  heart  of  the  husband- 
man rejoices  over  his  luxuriant  fields,  the  promise 
of  a  golden  harvest. 

And  yet  I  linger  here — a  plant,  1  trust,  m  the 
garden  of  the  Lord.  The  season  leads  me  to 
turn  my  thoughts  inward.  The  spring-time  of 
my  religious  life  has  long  since  passed — the  sea- 
son of  my  first  love  to  Jesus.  A  long  summer  of 
privileges  and  means  of  spiritual  growth  has 
followed.  The  sunshine  and  dew  of  heavenly 
grace  have  fallen  upon  me,  and  with  sharp  provi- 
dences the  Husbandman  has  pruned  me,  that  I 
might  bear  fruit.  How  favored  among  the  saints 
have  I  been  !  What  pi;ecious  seasons  of  com- 
munion with  my  God  and  Redeemer  have  I 
enjoyed !  How  kindly  has  he  chastened  me  for 
my  good  I  What  nourishment  and  comfort  have 
I  drawn  from  the  doctrines  and  promises  of  the 
gospel  I  How  sweet  has  been  the  communion 
^f  the  saints  !  How  precious  the  ordinances  of 
God's  house  !  And  my  summer  is  not  yet  over. 
I  have  not,  indeed,  all  the  outward  means  of 
grace  I  once  enjoyed — infirmity  confines  me 
often  to  my  chamber,  when  my  spirit  longs  for 
house  of  the  Lord.     But  the  closet  and  the 


tl^hc 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  7 

Word,  oh !  they  are  still  as  the  summer's  sun  and 
shower.  There  do  I  find  that  river,  whose 
streams  make  glad  the  city  of  God ;  there  do  1 
find  my  Saviour,  and  sometimes  he  condescends 
to  smile  upon  me,  and  then  my  poor  heart  is  full 
to  overflowing.  I  feel  the  influence  of  his  blessed 
intercessions,  and  the  sweet  breathings  of  the 
Spirit.  And  now  and  then  T  have  strength  to. 
visit  the  sanctuary,  and  there  I  am  revived  and 
nourished.  Sometimes,  too,  the  Saviour  sends 
one  of  his  dear  disciples  to  cheer  me  in  my 
solitude,  and,  oh !  what  a  feast  do  we  enjoy 
while  we  talk  of  Jesus  and  heaven.  Truly  the 
Lord  has  not  been  a  wilderness  unto  me.  »  My 
sky  has  not  indeed  been  all  sunshine.  Some- 
times it  has  been  night  about  me ;  but  then  the 
dew  lay  upon  my  roots,  and  I  did  not  perish.  I 
can  remember,  too,  storms  of  temptation  thai 
swept  over  me,  and  threatened  my  destruction. 
It  seemed  then  as  though  all  were  gone,  that  I 
should  be  uprooted  and  laid  prostrate.  Oh !  how 
have  my  lofty  boughs  been  shaken  and  broken — 
how  have  I  been  stripped  of  my  pride  and 
beauty,  and  made  to  bend  before  the  blast !  But 
He  who  rides  upon  the  wings  of  the  wind,  ^ad§ 


8  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

directs  the  storm,  caused  the  tempest  to  pass  oy. 
The  prince  of  the  power  of  the  air  was  driven 
l)ack,  and  again  all  was  calm  and  bright.  These 
fierce  temptations,  fearful  to  remember,  served, 
lirough  grace,  to  fasten  my  roots  more  firmly  in 
lie  earth,  and  give  me  new  strength  for  future 
assaults.  1  hey  taught  me  my  weakness,  and 
where  alone  lay  my  strength  and  hope.  Thus, 
even  these  have  been  among  my  means  of  spi- 
ritual growth.  And  oh,  what  distressing  discove- 
ries have  I  had  o^  the  hidden  corruption  of  my 
nature.  Surely,  thought  I,  I  cannot  belong  to 
the  Lord's  garden — I  am  a  cumberer  of  the 
ground — it  must  be  said  of  me,  Cut  it  down. 
But  all  this  has  driven  me  closer  to  my  Savioui, 
and  revealed  to  me  new  glories  in  his  grace.  I 
must  reckon  these  also  among  my  summer  privi- 
leges. I  can  bless  God  for  trials  and  crosses.  I 
would  adore  the  grace  that  has  sanctified  them 
to  me.  Thanks  for  the  summer  that  has  been 
granted,  with  all  its  clouds,  and  storms,  and  dark- 
ness. Better  than  all  sunshine.  And  may  it  be 
summer  still  with  my  soul,  till  I  die.  Let  the 
sun  of  righteousness  still  rise  upon  me,  and  the 
of  heavenly  grace  fall  gently  upon  me,  or  I 


<P 


THE       EVENING      OF      LJFE.  9 

perish.  Oh,  if  it  please  thee,  great  God,  spare 
me  severe  temptations — let  not  the  adversary 
assail  me  !  But  if  he  be  permitted  for  wise  rea- 
sons to  tempt  me,  oh !  be  present  with  me,  and 
give  me  a  way  of  escape.  Let  me  not  murmur 
under  the  rod.  Any  w^ay,  only  let  me  grow  in 
grace,  whether  in  storm  or  sunshine.  When  the 
great  harvest-day  shall  come,  may  I  be  found  a 
shock  of  corn  fully  ripe. 

AUTUMN. 

Rich,  golden,  fruitful  autumn  !  How  the  sun 
declines,  and  sheds  a  milder  radiance.  I  hear 
the  song  of  the  reaper  pouring  forth  his  joy,  as 
I  was  wont  to  do.  The  rich  harvest  falls  around 
him,  and  he  stands  in  the  midst  of  smihng 
plenty. 

Bountiful  Father !  praise  to  thee  for  thy  benig- 
nant providence.  Amid  these  fields,  where,  so 
many  summers,  I  have  gone  forth  to  my  daily 
toil,  seed-time  and  harvest  have  come  in  their 
unfailing  season,  according  to  thy  promise.  x4nd 
once  more  thou  crownest  the  year  with  thy 
goodness. 

This  is  the  harvest-time,  the  season  of  matu- 
2 


10  THE      EVENING       OF      LIFE. 

ritj  and  abundance.  How  is  it  with  my  soul! 
These  green  fields  shall  perish,  but  my  spirit 
shall  survive  their  desolation.  Is  it  autumn-time 
with  that?  Does  it  exhibit  signs  of  Iruitfuhiess I 
Do  its  maturing  graces  indicate  a  meetness  for 
the  heavenly  garner !  True,  no  plant  of  grace 
attains  its  perfection  here.  The  "harvest-home" 
shall  not  be  sung  on  earth.  But  at  this  late 
hour  should  be  manifest  no  doubtful  signs  of 
increase  and  maturity.  My  long  summer  of 
gracious  privileges  should  have  made  my  graces 
strong  and  thrifty,  and  ripened  flowers  into  fruit. 
As  the  hour  is  at  hand  when  the  Husbandman 
shall  gather  in  his  harvest,  it  becomes  me  to  be 
ready. 

Alas  !  I  have  to  lament  my  barrenness.  When 
I  should  flourish  like  the  palm-tree,  I  am  scarce 
more  tlian  a  stinted  shrub.  When  I  should  be 
laden  with  truit,  1  too  much  resemble  the  barren 
fig-tiee.  Yet,  oh  great  and  good  Husbandman, 
it  would  be  sinful  ingratitude  to  deny  what  thou 
hast  Cirme  for  me.  Thou  hast  not  permitted  the 
proiPiue  of  spring  to  die.  Thou  hast  watched 
over  ^he  seeds  of  grace ;  thou  hast  watered  and 
nournhed    the   tender    plants;     thou    hast    kept 


THE       EVENING      OF      LIFE.  11 

away  the  destroying  foot  and  the  blighting  mil- 
dew By  the  grace  of  God,  I  am  what  I  atii. 
I  think  I  care  less  for  the  world,  sin  appears 
more  odious,  holiness  more  lovely,  God  more 
glorious,  the  Saviour  more  precious,  heaven  more 
desirable.  Thy  word  is  my  dehght ;  thy  pro- 
mises, my  stay ;  the  closet,  my  chosen  retreat. 
I  long  for  more  readiness  to  do  and  suffer  thy 
will.  It  pains  me  that  I  am  no  more  patient  and 
holy.  Oh,  to  be  free  from  sin,  to  dwell  where 
every  thought  will  be  holy,  every  breath  praise. 
Is  not  this  the  fruit  of  thy  Spirit?  It  is  of  thy 
grace,  which  has  not  wrought  in  vain.  In  my  flesh 
dwells  no  good  thing,  but  thy  Spirit  raises  my 
soul  to  God.  I  trust  to  be  accepted  through  the 
merits  of  the  Redeemer. 

Yet,  methinks,  there  is  a  sadness  in  the  season. 
Its  influence  steals  over  my  spirit  and  I  cannot 
but  weep  as  a  child.  Where  are  the  friends  of 
my  youth?  They  have  fallen,  like  leaves, 
around  me.  My  children — I  look  for  them  in 
vain — they  "are  gone  forth  of  me, 'and  are  not." 
I  am  as  a  tree  stripped  of  its  foliage.  Tne 
moaning  wind  reminds  me  that  my  life  is  depart- 
ing, and   that  T  hasten  to  my  account.     I  think 


12  THE       E  V  E  ^M  N  G       OF       LIFE. 

of  iiij  iiiiperfectioii — of  my  small  growth — of 
the  httle  honor  I  have  brought  to  iiij  Saviour, 
and  am  sad. 

But,  O  Saviour,  though  I  have  never  loved 
nor  glorified  thee  as  I  ought,  and  have  often 
grieved  thee,  I  must  fly  to  thee.  Life  is  fail- 
ing, be  Thou  my  strength.  Thj  blood  and 
righteousness  are  my  only  plea.  And,  oh,  make 
me  a  more  fruitful  branch.  Affliction  and  long 
years  have  stripped  ofl*  my  leaves ;  may  the  sun 
shine  more  warmly  upon  me,  and  ripen  the  fruit 
for  heaven !  Oh,  blessed  Paradise,  where  I  shall 
bring  forth  fruit  in  heavenly  perfection ! 

WINTER. 

The  cold  bleak  winds  of  winter  are  raging 
without.  The  snow  falls  fast,  and  the  trees  put 
on  their  frosty  foliage.  This  is  the  old  age  of 
the  year.  Its  youth  and  manhood  are  past, 
and  now  come  decrepitude  and  death.  Not  a 
flower  can  be  seen  in  all  the  fields,  and  the  war- 
blers have  ah  flown,  except  the  snow-birds  that 
gather  crumbs  under  the  window.  How  cold 
::rjd  drear !  The  fresh  beauty  of  Spring  has  left 
not  a  trace  behind.      The  old  year  is  dying  out. 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  13 

II  is  wrapping  iti|  drapery  of  death  around  it,  and 
preparing  to  be  numbered  with  the  years  beyond 
the  flood. 

And  the  winter  of  my  day  is  come,  The 
frost  of  age  whitens  my  temples.  Like  all  my 
fathers,  I  am  descending  to  the  dust.  Lord, 
help  me  to  number  my  days,  and  apply  my 
heart  unto  wisdom.  Tlie  remnant  of  my  days  is 
but  a  hand-breadth.  May  I  keep  my  end  in 
sight.  In  view  of  death,  how  is  it  with  me? 
Doth  death  seem  terrible,  and  the  grave  a  place 
of  gloom  1  Blessed  be  God,  while  I  sit  musing 
by  this  cheerful  fire,  with  the  precious  Bible  in 
my  hands,  so  full  of  promises,  I  can  say,  I  would 
not  live  always.  Li  this  warm  room  flowers  are 
blooming  in  mid-winter;  so  within  my  heart, 
amid  the  frosts  of  age,  the  flower  of  Hope  is 
blossoming  for  eternity. 

The  glow  of  youthful  passion  is  quenched, 
but  instead,  the  love  of  Christ  burns  within  me. 
I  feel  its  blessed  warmth.  Not  things  present, 
nor  things  to  come,  can  extinguish  it.  It  shall 
live  when  my  poor  body  lies  in  the  grave.  God 
himself  kindled  the  flame,  and  he  will  allow 
nothing  to  quench   it.      Through  the  merits  of 


]  4  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

tlie  crucified   Redeemer,   for   me  to  die  will  be 
gain.      Come,  death — come,  life. 

Winter  is  next  to  spring.  Then  the  flowers 
will  bloom  again,  and  the  birds  sing  as  sweetly  as 
ever.  And  my  winter  will  soon  be  over,  aisd 
then  an  everlasting  Spring.  Whether  anothei 
one  on  earth  awaits  me,  it  concerns  me  not.  A 
brighter  and  unfading  one  will  open  before  me. 
The  nearer  to  death,  the  nearer  to  glory.  My 
soul  shall  be  with  Jesus.  And  my  body,  though 
it  sleep  in  dust,  shall  rise,  at  the  resurrection 
morning,  from  the  corruption  of  death,  in  youth- 
ful beauty  and  strength,  and  then  body  and  spirit 
shall  be  companions  in  glory.  Thanks  be  to 
God  who  giveth  me  the  victory  through  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

PRAYER  FOR  USEFULNESS  IN  OLD  AGE. 

See  you  the  sun,  how  majestically  and  brightly 
it  sheds  its  parting  beams  around  you  1  I  have 
heard  that  the  rays  of  the  setting  sun  produce  a 
most  salutary  effect  on  the  vegetable  word.  Oh, 
that  my  setting  sun,  which  must  soon  go  down 
in  death,  may,  during  the  evening  of  my  days, 
be  more  and   more  blessed  in  slu  dding  a  bene- 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  15 

ficial  light  on  the  trees  the  Lord  hath  planted, 
and  is  watering  to  his  glory. — Rowland  HUL 

THE  RETURN  OF  YOUTH. 

My  friend,  thou  sorrowest  for  thy  golden  prime, 
For  thy  fair  youthful  years,  too  swift  of  flight ; 
Thou  musest,  with  wet  eyes,  upon  the  time 
Of  cheerful  hopes  that  filled  the  world  with  light ; 
Years  when  thy  heart  was  bold,  thy  hand  was  strong, 
And  prompt  thy  tongue  the  generous  thought  to  speak. 
And  willing  faith  was  thine,  and  scorn  of  wrong 
Summoned  the  sudden  crimson  to  thy  cheek. 

Thou  lookest  forward  on  the  coming  days, 
Shuddering  to  feel  their  shadow  o'er  thee  creep ; 
A  path,  thick  set  with  changes  and  decays, 
Slopes  downward  to  the  place  of  common  sleep ; 
And  they  who  walked  with  thee  in  life's  first  stage, 
Leave  one  by  one  thy  side,  and,  waiting  here, 
Thou  seest  the  sad  companions  of  thy  age — 
Dull  love  of  rest,  and  weariness,  and  fear. 

Yet  grieve  thou  not,  nor  think  thy  youth  is  gone, 
Nor  deem  that  glorious  season  e'er  could  die ; 
The  pleasant  youth,  a  little  while  withdrawn, 
Waits  on  the  horizon  of  a  bi-ighter  sky ; 
Waits  hke  the  morn,  but  folds  her  wings  and  hides. 
Till  the  slow  stars  bring  back  her  dawning  hour ; 
Waits  like  the  vanished  spring,  that  slumbering  bides 
Her  own  sweet  time  to  waken  bird  and  flower. 


16  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

There  shnll  lie  welcome  thee,  when  thou  shalt  ?tand 
On  his  brio:ht  morninoj  hills,  with  smiles  more  sweet 
Than  when  at  first  he  took  thee  by  the  hand, 
Through  the  fair  earth  to  lead  thy  tender  feet ; 
He  shall  bring  back,  but  brighter,  broader  still, 
Life's  early  glory  to  thine  eyes ;  again 
Shall  clothe  thy  spirit  with  new  strength,  and  fill 
Thy  leaping  heart  with  warmer  love  than  then. 

Hast  thou  not  glimpses,  in  the  twilight  here, 

Of  mountains  where  immortal  morn  prevails  ? 

Comes  there  not,  through  their  silence,  to  thine  ear 

A  gentle  murmur  of  the  morning  gales 

That  sweep  the  ambrosial  groves  of  that  bright  shore, 

And  thence  the  fragrance  of  its  blossoms  bear, 

And  voices  of  the  loved  ones  gone  before. 

More  musical  in  that  celestial  air  ?  Bryant. 


ZACHARIAII  AND   ELIZABETH— OR  THE  AGED 
PAIR. 

Beautiful  is  old  age  when  walking  in  the 
way  of  righteousness,  and  such  was  the  glory 
that  crowned  the  dechning  days  of  the  parents 
of  John  the  Baptist.  "  They  were  both  right- 
eous before  God,  walking  in  all  the  command- 
ments and  ordinances  of  the  Lord  blameless." 

But  doubly  beautiful  is  such  old  age,  when, 
not   pursuing   its    lonely    way,  weeping    at    the 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  17 

remembrance  of  one  with  whom  that  path  to 
glory  had  been  trodden,  but,  alas  !  smitten  down 
to  the  dust  of  death, — it  is  seen,  pressing  that 
path,  cheered  by  the  fond  companionship  of 
earher  days.  And  such,  too,  was  the  distinguished 
happiness  of  Zachariah  and  Ehzabeth.  The 
Providence  that  had  made  them  one,  had  kindly 
continued  that  union  to  a  good  old  age.  To- 
gether do  they  serve  God  on  earth,  together  are 
they  waiting  for  their  change  to  come. 

God  would  seem  to  have  conferred  special 
honor  upon  pious  age,  in  connexion  with  that 
astonishing  event,  the  advent  of  Jesus.  It  was  no 
young  man  to  whom  was  allowed  the  exalted 
privilege  of  giving  the  first  pubhc  welcome  to  the 
Messiah ;  but  it  was  Simeon,  the  just  and  devout, 
who  had  waited  for  the  consolation  of  Israel.  It 
was  no  young  female,  whose  voice  of  praise  and 
thanksgiving  blended  with  Simeon's  in  the'  temple 
over  the  holy  child,  but  Anna's,  the  widow  of 
fourscore  and  four  years,  who  served  God  with 
fastings  and  prayers  night  and  day.  And  when 
one  is  to  be  raised  up  as  the  prophet  of  the 
Highest,  to  go  before  the  Lord  in  the  spirit  and 
power    of  Ehas,  beneath  whose    roof  shall    he 


18  THE      EVENING       OF      LIFE. 

first  appear  1  Whose,  but  that  of  those  aged 
saints  before  alhided  to,  whose  house  had  never 
rung  with  the  glad  voice  of  children  ?  In  their 
old  age  shall  thej  have  joy  and  gladness,  in  the 
experience  of  parental  love,  and  in  sustaining  a 
most  interesting  relation  to  the  advent  of  the 
Saviour. 

Lovely  was  their  life  before  this  event, — passed 
in  the  serene  beauty  of  hohness  ;  but  a  new  glory 
gilds  their  path,  and  new  joy  fills  their  hearts,  at 
the  fulfilment  of  the  divine  promise  made  through 
Gabriel.  What  the  Hebrew  mother  ever  deemed 
her  special  happiness  and  honor,  but  till  now 
denied  Ehzabeth,  is  unexpectedly  granted  her. 
She  embraces  a  child,  and  such  a  child  I 

It  was  with  delight,  but  it  must  have  been  a 
strange  delight,  with  which  a  feeling  of  awe  was 
blended,  that  she  pressed  to  her  heart  this  singular 
child,  sanctified  even  from  his  birth,  the  subject 
of  such  remarkable  predictions,  and  destined  to 
so  sublime  a  mission.  And  with  what  strangle 
feelings  must  those  parents  have  watched  his 
unfolding  childhood,  trained  as  it  was  under  the 
immediate  tuition  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  certain, 


THE      EVENING       OF      LIFE.  J  9 

by  God's  promise,  to  expand  into  a  noble  man 
hood. 

Blessed  old  age !  happy  home  !  where  domestic 
bliss  is  hallowed  by  exalted  piety,  and  where  we 
are  taught  how  even  earth  may  yield  pure  enjoy- 
ment, if  only  the  Spirit  of  God  dwell  within  us. 

The  contemplation  of  this  happy,  venerable 
pair,  naturally  brings  to  mind  others,  whose  union, 
protracted  to  a  good  .old  age,  has  been  our 
admiration  and  delight.  The  evening  shad- 
ows are,  with  them,  deepening  into  night,  but 
they  descend  hand  in  hand  into  the  "  valley  ;" — 
they  who  were  one  in  the  spring  and  summer  of 
life,  are  still  together  in  its  autumn. 

The  fall  of  the  year  is  the  season  when  nature 
begins  her  decline.  The  chill  winds  moan 
through  the  trees,  the  sere  and  yellow  leaf 
appears,  and  the  songs  of  the  birds  are  dying 
away.  So  is  it  with  those  whose  life  is  hasten- 
ing to  its  close  :  the  beauty  of  life  is  faded,  the 
songs  of  earlier  days  are  sobered  into  grave  con- 
templations, and  behold,  the  friends  of  youth 
have  fallen  like  the  leaves  of  the  forest.  At  such  a 
season  of  life,  it  is  a  blessing  to  be,  not  like  Abra- 
ham when  his  Sarah  was  buried  from  his  sight 


20  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

or  Naomi  when  bereaved  of  her  hushand,  ba\ 
like  Zachariah  and  Elizabeth,  leaning  upon  each 
other  in  old  age,  and  cheered  by  the  blessed  hope 
of  an  eternal  union  after  only  a  brief  separation. 
There  in  the  family  mansion,  in  which  a  third 
generation  may  have  grown  up  around  them,  sit 
the  aged  couple — the  patriarch  of  fourscore  years, 
his  hoary  head  a  crown  of  glory ;  and  the  vene- 
rable matron,  the  mother  perhaps  of  many  sons 
and  daughters.  It  is  pleasing  to  go  in  and  sit 
beside  them,  and  engage  them  in  conversation 
upon  the  past  and  future.  And  you  may  be 
almost  sure  to  find  them  together.  In  former 
years,  though  they  loved  and  lived  for  each 
other,  their  pursuits  often  called  them  different 
ways  in  the  busy  world.  But  now  they  are  never 
happy  except  when  together.  Their  enfeebled 
powers  are  unequal  to  any  severe  toil,  and  the 
aged  husband,  after  a  short  absence,  gladly  directs 
his  steps  homeward  to  greet  her,  whose  presence 
has  become  indispensable  to  his  happiness.  How 
pleasing  to  witness  the  childlike  simplicity  jf 
their  affection,  displayed  in  many  Httle  acts  of 
kindness  toward  each  other.  The  schemes  which 
once   occupied  their  minds,  at  home  or  abroad 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  2  I 

have    given    place    to    the   gentle    assiduities    of 
love. 

All  the  scenes  through  which  a  long  life  has 
led  them,  whether  of  prosperity  or  darkness,^have 
cemented  their  hearts,  and  identified  their  inte- 
rests more  closely  together. 

Along  the  path  of  sorrow  they  have,  perhaps, 
often  walked  and  wept  together,  and  learned  how 
vain  is  earth,  how  true  is  heaven.  The  sickness 
or  death  of  children,  when  they  have  mingled 
their  griefs  and  prayers,  the  graves  where  they 
have  laid  their  dead,  the  tears  they  have  there  shed, 
the  flowers  they  have  there  planted,  and  the  visits 
they  have  there  made ;  the  domestic  altar,  by 
which,  during  long  years,  morning  and  evening, 
parents  and  children  have  knelt  together;  the 
sanctuary  where  they  have  hallowed  so  many 
Sabbaths :  and  the  precious  revivals,  it  nfay  be, 
which  they  have  witnessed,  and  which  have 
brought  the  joy  of  salvation  into  their  own  house- 
hold,— these,  and  all  the  other  varied  scenes  of  a 
long  pilgrimage  have  made  them  inseparably  one. 

How  ready  they  are  to  talk  over,  with  them- 
selves or  their  friends,  these  past  events,  and  to 
adore    the    good    hand   of  the   Lord    in   all  the 


22  THE      E  V  E  i\M  N  G      OF      LIFE. 

changes  that  have  marked  then*  course  since  theL 
fortunes  became  identified. 

Of  all  the  friends  of  their  youth,  only  here  and 
there  one  remains.  The  greater  part  are  resting 
where  their  own  mortal  part  must  soon  find  its 
home.  Everything  admonishes  them  that  life  is 
ebbing,  that  their  sands  are  almost  run.  But 
they  do  not  repine,  for  they  would  not  five 
always,  and  they  feel  that  God  has  indeed  been 
very  merciful  to  them.  They  have  had  their  full 
share  of  the  joys  of  earth  ;  but  they  have  experi- 
enced also  its  sorrows,  and  are  burdened  with  its 
infirmities,  and  they  would  gladly  soar  away  and 
be  at  rest.  They  are  surrounded,  it  may  be,  by 
those  who  delight  to  minister  to  their  comfort, 
and  for  this  they  are  thankful ;  but  they  have  a 
dearer  friend  above,  better  than  sons  and  daugh- 
ters, irrfinitely  lovely,  and  they  long  to  be  with 
Him.  In  Him  is  their  trust.  Him  they  would  see 
and  adore  How  cheerful  their  spirit,  how 
childUke  their  faith.  And  as  they  have  been  one 
in  life,  so  in  death  they  cannot  be  long  divided. 
Which  first  shall  go  they  know  not :  enough,  that 
they  shall    have    the   same    home   for  ever. 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  23 

THE  WIFE'S  DEATH. 
The  death  of  an  old  man's  wife  is  like  cutting 
down  an  ancient  oak  that  has  long  shaded  the 
family  mansion.  Henceforth  the  glare  of  the 
w^orld,  with  its  cares  and  vicissitudes,  falls  upon 
the  old  widower's  heart,  and  there  is  nothing  to 
break  their  force  or  shield  him  from  the  full 
weight  of  misfortune.  It  is  as  if  his  right  hand 
had  withered — as  if  one  wing  of  his  eagle  was 
broken,  and  every  movement  that  he  made 
brought  him  to  the  ground.  His  eyes  are  dim  and 
glassy,  and  when  the  film  of  death  falls  over  him, 
he  misses  those  accustomed  tones  which  might 
have  soothed  his  passage  to  the  grave. — Lamar- 
tine. 

THE  AGED. 
I  LOVE  the  aged ; — every  silver  hair 

On  their  time-honored  brows,  speak  to  my  heart 
In  language  of  the  past ;  each  furrow  there, 

In  all  my  best  affections  claims  a  part ; 
Next  to  our  God  and  Scripture's  holy  page, 
Is  deepest  rev'rence  due  to  virtuous  age. 

The  aged  Christian  stands  upon  the  shore 

Of  Time,  a  storehouse  of  experience, 
Filled  with  the  treasures  of  rich  heavenly  lore ; 

I  loTe  to  sit  and  hear  him  draw  from  thence 


24  THE      EVENING       OF       I.  1  F  K  . 

Sweet  recollections  of  his  journey  past, — 

A  journey  crowned  with  blessings  to  the  last. 

Lovely  the  aged  !  when  like  shocks  of  corn, 
Full  ripe  and  ready  for  the  reaper's  hand. 

Which  garners  for  the  resurrection  morn 
The  bodies  of  the  just, — in  hope  they  stand. 

And  dead  must  be  the  heart,  the  bosom  cold, 

Which  warms  not  with  affection  for  the  old. 

Marguerite  St.  Leon  Loud, 

LIGHT  IN  DARKNESS. 
God  would  not  hesitate  to  work  wonders  in 
order  to  turn"  your  sorrow  into  joy.  Wlien  in 
your  Gethsemane  (for  each  in  his  turn  enters  this 
garden  to  sweat  blood  like  the  Prince  of  the  just) 
you  shall  in  your  agony  have  uttered  the  mourn- 
ful cry,  "  Father,  let  this  cup  pass  from  me,"  the 
Father  might  send  angels  to  your  assistance,  as  he 
did  to  our  generous  representative.  But  Christ 
needed  this  assistance,  and,  thanks  to  him,  we 
need  it  not.  The  angels,  who  in  those  dread 
times  will  come  with  a  compassionate  hand  to 
support  our  decUning  head,  and  wipe  the  sweat 
from  our  brow,  are  invisible  angels,  who  will  not 
then  come  for  the  first  time,  for  they  have  been 
l(>ng   there,  and   have   never   quitted   us.      These 


THE       EVENING       OF      LIFE.  25 

invisible  angels  are  faith,  hope,  and  love,  if  we 
have  detained  .them  beside  us  by  contemplation 
prayer,  and  good  works ;  or  rather  he  whom  we 
have  detained  beside  us  is  God  himself;  God, 
whose  spirit,  as  he  himself  has  said,  "  is  in  distress 
in  all  our  distresses."  "  Though  we  walk  through 
the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,  we  will  feai 
no  evil,  for  God  is  with  us,  his  rod  and  his  staff 
comfort  us."  Yes,  in  this  very  darkness,  the 
blackest  of  all  darkness,  in  the  approaches  of 
death,  thou,  thyself,  O  Lord !  wilt  come  to  com- 
fort thy  poor  creatures  ;  thou  wilt  defend  our 
couch  from  those  visions  of  terror  which  ominous 
appearances  and  the  remembrance  of  our  sins 
gather  around  us.  Did  it  seem  good  to  thy 
wisdom  to  leave  us  alone,  and  without  immedi- 
ate consolation,  to  perform  part  of  the  journey  in 
the  darkness  of  the  cavern,  it  would  be  on  its 
issue  to  give  a  purer  and  more  briUiant  hght  to 
the  sacred  day  of  redemption.  The  radiant  face 
of  our  Saviour  will  enlighten  this  darkness  ;  we 
shall  not  be  long  in  discerning  his  mild  and 
beneficent  countenance  ;  and  from  that  inouient, 
assured  and  enraptured,  we  shall  feel  a  sublime 
joy  rise  and  expand  in  our  soul   over   our  fears, 


26  THE       EVENING      OF     LIFE. 

our  regrets,  and  it  inaj  be,  our  remorse.  Beside 
him  what  can  we  fear ;  what  can  we  want  1 
Shall  w^e  not  be  well  wherever  he  is?  Can  we 
be  perfectly  satisfied  wherever  he  is  not  ?  Was 
not  the  hope  which  supplied  the  place  of  happi- 
ness here  below,  the  hope  of  possessing  him  ? 
And  if  it  was  sweet  in  this  place  of  exile  to  suffer 
with  him,  what  will  it  be  in  heaven  to  reign  with 
him  1  O  revelations,  glory,  marvels  of  a  Chris- 
tian death,  how  great  you  are  and  ravishing! 
Will  it  ever  be  possible  for  us  to  pay  too  dearly 
for  them  t  Is  it  to  pay  too  much  for  the  death 
of  the  righteous  to  die  beforehand,  and  die  daily 
to  ourselves,  and  hide  our  life  with  Christ  in  the 
bosom  of  God  1  O  Lord,  teach  us  this  death,  in 
order  that  we  may  be  capable  of  the  other !  O 
Lord,  disrobe  us  of  ourselves,  and  clothe  us  wdth 
tbyself !  Make  us  poor  in  order  that  we  may  be 
rich  !  Be  our  only  treasure !  Be  our  only  lighi 
in  the  days  of  happiness,  so  that  thou  inayest 
also  be  our  light  in  days  of  mourning,  and  at  the 
bour  of  final  departure  ! — Vinet. 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  27 

THE  PR.. SENT  AND  THE  FUTURE. 
It  is  strange  that  the  experience  Oi"  so  many 
ages  should  not  make  us  judge  more  sohdlj  of 
the  present  and  of  tiie  future,  so  as  to  take 
proper  measures  in  the  one  for  the  other.  We 
doat  upon  this  world  as  if  it  were  never  to  have 
an  end,  and  we  neglect  the  next,  as  if  it  were 
never  to  have  a  beginning. — Fenelon, 

Build  your  nest  on  no  tree  here  ;  for  you  see 
God  hath  sold  the  forest  to  death,  and  every  tree 
upon  which  we  would  rest  is  ready  to  be  cut 
down,  to  the  end  that  we  may  flee  and  mount  ud 
and  build  upon  the  rock. — Rutherford. 

The  Cross  of  Chrisf. — Christ's  cross  is  the 
sweetest  burden  that  ever  I  bore :  it  is  such  a 
burden  as  wdngs  are  to  a  bird,  or  sails  to  a  ship, 
to  carry  me  forward  to  my  harbor. — Rutherford. 

Children's  children  are  the  crown  of  old  men ; 
and  the  glory  of  children  are  their  fathers. — 
Frov.  xvii.  6 


28  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

FAITH. 

A  SWALLOW,  in  the  spring, 
Came  to  our  granary,  and  'neath  the  eaves 
Essayed  to  make  a  nest,  and  there  did  bring 
Wet  earth,  and  straw,  and  leaves. 

Day  after  day  she  toiled. 

With  patient  art,  but  ere  her  work  was  crowned, 
Some  sad  mishap  the  tiny  fabric  spoiled, 
And  dashed  it  to  the  ground. 

She  found  the  ruin  wrought ; 
Yet  not  cast  down,  forth  from  the  place  she  flew, 
And  with  her  mate  fresh  earth  and  grasses  brought. 
And  built  her  nest  anew. 

But  scarcely  had  she  placed 

The  last  soft 'feather  on  its  ample  floor, 

When  wicked  hand,  or  chance,  again  laid  waste 

And  wrought  the  ruin  o'er. 

But  still  her  heart  she  kept. 
And  toiled  again  ; — and,  last  night  hearing  calls, 
I  looked,  and  lo  !  three  little  swallows  slept 
Within  the  earth-made  walls. 

What  truth  is  here,  0  man  ! 

Hath  Hope  been  smitten  in  its  early  dawn  ? 

Have  clouds  o'ercast  thy  purpose,  trust  or  plan  ? 

Have  Faith,  and  struggle  on  ! 

R.  S.  S.  Andros. 


THE       K  V  E  1\  I  N  G       OF       LIFE.  29 

Christ  and  His  Cross. — Hold  fast  Christ, 
but  take  his  cross  and  hmiself  cheerfully  ;  Christ 
and  his  cross  are  not  separable  in  this  life,  how- 
ever they  part  at  heaven's  door,  for  there  is  no 
room  for  crosses  in  heaven  ;  crosses  are  but  the 
marks  of  our  Lord  Jesus,  down  in  this  stormy 
country,  or  this  side  death;  sorrow  and  the 
saints  are  not  married  together;  or,  suppose  it 
were  so,  heaven  will  make  a  divorce. — Ruther- 
ford. 

CHARITY. 

'Tis  a  little  thing 
To  give  a  cup  of  water ;  yet  its  draught 
Of  cool  refreshment,  drained  by  fevered  hps, 
May  give  a  shock  of  pleasure  to  the  frame 
More  exquisite  than  when  nectarean  juice 
Renews  the  Ufe  of  joy  in  happiest  hours. 
It  is  a  little  thing  to  speak  a  phrase 
Of  common  comfort  which  by  daily  use 
Has  almost  lost  its  sense  ;  yet  on  the  ear 
Of  him  who  thought  to  die  unmourned  'twill  faJi 
Like  choicest  music. —  Talfourd. 

Salvation    by    Christ. — People   talk    about 
looking  back  on  a  well-spent  life.     I  look  up  to 


30  THE       EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

liim  who  spent  his  Hfe  gloriously  to  redeem  the 
life  of  my  precious  soul ;  and  there  alone  I  dare 
to  look.  I  thank  God  who  has  kept  me  from 
the  grosser  sins  of  the  world;  but  there  is  not  a 
prayer  more  suitable  to  my  dying  hps  than  that 
of  the  publican, — "  God  be  merciful  to  me  a 
sinner." — Rowland  Hill. 

ROWLAND  HILL  IN  HIS  OLD  AGE. 
When  Rowland  Hill  was  far  advanced  in  hfe, 
he  made  a  visit  to  Mrs.  Hannah  More.  In 
answer  to  a  question  from  that  lady,  he  informed 
her  that  he  had  vaccinated  with  his  own  hand 
nearly  eight  thousand  persons.  One  who  was 
present  at  the  interview  says :  "  We  talked  of 
everybody,  from  John  Bunyan,  to  John  Locke, 
and  he  really  showed  an  excellent  discrimination 
and  tact  in  character.  But  the  most  beautiful 
feature  of  all  was  the  spirit  of  love  and  charity 
which  was  eminently  conspicuous  in  this  Chris- 
tian veteran.  I  cannot  express  to  you  how 
interesting  a  spectacle  it  was  to  see  these  two 
already  half-beatified  servants  of  their  common 
Lord  greeting  one  another  for  the  first,  and 
probably  the  last  time  on  this  side  Jordan,  pre- 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  31 

paratory  to  the  consummation  of  a  unio^  and 
friendship  wliich  will  last  for  ever  in  the  region  of 
eternal  felicity.  I  do  suppose  thai  no  tw^o  per- 
sons in  their  own  generation  have  done  more  in 
their  respective  w^ays  than  Hannah  More  and 
Rowland  Hill.  Both  have  exceeded  fourscore  ; 
both  retain  health  and  vigor  of  intellect ;  both 
are  on  the  extreme  verge  of  eternity,  w^aiting  for 
the  glorious  summons,  '  Come,  ye  blessed  of  my 
Father.'  "  He  concluded  this  interesting  visit  with 
a  fine  prayer,  which  was  poured  forth  in  an 
excellent  voice  and  manner. — Hannah  Move's 
Life, 

CONSOLATION. 
Pilgrim  burdened  with  thy  sin, 
Come  the  way  to  Zion's  gate. 
There,  till  mercy  let  thee  in. 
Knock,  and  weep,  and  watch,  and  wait. 
Knock  !  He  knows  the  sinner's  cry  ; 
Weep  !  He  loves  the  mourner's  tears ; 
Watch  !  for  saving  grace  is  nigh ; 
Wait — till  heavenly  light  appears. 

Hark  !  it  is  the  bridegroom's  voice  : 
Welcome,  pilgrim,  to  thy  rest ; 
Now  within  the  gate  rejoice, 
Safe,  and  sealed,  and  bought,  and  blest. 


32  r  H  E      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

Safe — from  all  the  lures  of  vice, 
Sealed — by  signs  the  chosen  know, 
Bought — by  love,  and  life  the  price. 
Blest — the  mighty  debt  to  owe. 

Holy  pilgrim  !  what  for  thee 
In  a  world  like  this  remain  ? 
From  thy  guarded  breast  shall  flee 
Fear,  and  shame,  and  doubt,  and  pain. 
Fear — the  hope  of  heaven  shall  fly, 
Shame — from  glory's  view  retire, 
Doubt — in  certain  rapture  die, 
Pain — in  endless  bUss  expire. — Crahhe, 

DYING  TO  SELF. 
The  pious  Mr.  Berridge  says  in  a  letter  to 
Mrs.  Wilberforce,  when  she  was  in  dying  circuni- 
staaces:  "Live  as  near  to  Jesus  as  you  possibly 
can,  but  die,  die  to  self.  'Tis  a  daily  work — 'tis 
a  hard  work.  I  find  myself  to  be  Hke  an 
insurmountable  mountain,  or  a  perpendicular 
rock  that  must  be  overcome !  I've  not  got  over 
it,  not  half  way  over  !  This,  this  is  my  greatest 
trial !  Self  is  hke  a  mountain ;  Jesus  is  a  sun 
that  shines  on  the  other  side  of  the  mountain ; 
and  now  and  then  a  sunbeam  shines  over  the 
top  :  we  get  a  glimpse,  a  sort  of  twilight  appre- 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  33 

liension  of  the  brightness  of,  the  sun  ;  but  self 
must  be  much  more  subdued  in  me  before  I  can 
bask  in  the  sunbeams  of  the  ever  blessed  Jesus,  or 
say  in  everything  *  Thy  w^ill  be  done !' 

VANITY  OF  LIFE. 

What  availeth  it  to  hve  long,  w^hen  the  im- 
provement of  hfe  is  so  inconsiderable  1  Length  of 
days,  instead  of  making  us  better,  often  increaseth 
the  weight  of  sin.  Would  to  God  that  we  could 
live  well,  only  for  one  day !  Many  reckon  years 
from  the  time  of  their  conversion  ;  but  the  account 
of  their  attainments  in  holiness  is  exceedingly 
small.  Therefore,  though  death  be  terrible,  yet  a 
longer  life  may  be  dangerous.  Blessed  is  the 
man  who  continually  anticipates  the  hour  of  his 
death,  and  keeps  himself  in  continual  preparation 
for  its  approach  ! —  Thomas  a  Ke?npis, 

The  glory  of  young  men  is  their  strength ; 
and  the  beautj  of  old  men  is  the  gray  head.— — 
Prov.  XX.  29. 

3 


34  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

MEDITATIONS  ON  DEATH. 

If  thou  hast  ever  seen  another  die,  let  not  the 
impression  of  that  most  interesting  sight  be  effaced 
from  thy  heart ;  but  remember,  that  through  the 
same  vale  of  darkness  thou  also  must  pass  from 
this  state  of  existence  to  the  next.  When  it  is 
morning,  think  that  thou  may  est  not  live  till  the 
evening ;  and,  in  the  evening,  presume  not  to 
promise  thyself  another  morning.  Be,  therefore, 
always  ready,  and  so  live,  that  death  may  not 
find  thee  confounded  at  its  summons.  Many  die 
suddenly  and  unexpectedly:  "for  in  such  an 
hour  as  ye  think  not,  the  Son  of  man  cometh." 
And  v^hen  that  last  hour  is  come  to  thee,  thou 
wilt  begin  to  think  differently  of  thy  past  life,  and 
be  inexpressibly  grieved  for  thy  remissness  and 
inconsideration. —  Thomas  a  Keinpis. 

Warning  to  the  Afflicted. — Affliction  has 
a  tendency,  especially  if  long  continued,  to  gene- 
rate a  kind  of  despondency  and  ill  temper;  and 
spiritual  incapacity  is  closely  connected  with  pain 
and  sickness.  The  spirit  of  prayer  does  not 
necessarily  come  with  affliction.  If  this  be  not 
poured  out  upon  the  man,  he  will,  hke  a  wounded 
beast,  skulk  to  his  den  and  growl  there. — Cecil. 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  35 

Christ  a  Living  Saviour. — Christ  is  not  in 
the  heart  of  a  saint,  as  in  a  sepulchre,  or  as  a 
dead  Saviour,  that  does  nothing,  but  as  in  his 
temple,  and  as  one  that  is  alive  from  the  dead. — 
Pres.  Edwards. 

BENEFIT  OF  AFFLICTION. 

The  surest  way  to  know  our  gold  is  to  look 
upon  it  and  examine  it  in  God's  furnace,  where 
he  tries  it  for  that  end,  that  we  may  see  what  it 
is.  If  we  have  a  mind  to  know  whether  a 
building  stands  strong  or  no,  we  must  look  upon 
it  when  the  wind  blows.  If  we  would  know 
whether  that  which  appears  in  the  form  of  wheat 
has  the  real  substance  of  wheat,  or  be  only  chaff, 
we  must  observe  it,  when  it  is  winnowed.  If  we 
would  know  whether  a  staff  be  strong,  or  a  rot- 
ten, broken  reed,  we  must  observe  it  when  it  is 
leaned  on,  and  weight  is  borne  upon  it.  If  we 
would  weigh  ourselves  justly,  we  must  weigh 
ourselves  in  God's  scales,  that  he  makes  use  of  to 
weigh  us. — Fres.  Edwards. 

True  and  False  Religion. — The  religion  of 
some  people  is  constrained  ;  they  are  like  people 
who   use   the   cold    bath — not    for  pleasure,   but 


36  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE 

necessity  and  their  health  ;  they  go  in  with 
rehictance,  and  are  glad  when  they  get  out.  Bui 
religion  to  a  true  heliever  is  hke  water  to  a  fish ; 
it  is  his  element,  he  lives  in  it,  and  he  could  not 
live  out  of  it. — John  Newton. 

GLORY  OF  PRAYER. 
When  one  that  holds  communion  with  the  skies, 
Has  filled  his  urn  where  these  pure  waters  rise,   ■ 
And  once  more  mingles  with  us,  meaner  things, 
'Tis  e'en  as  if  an  angel  shook  his  wings ; 
Immortal  fragrance  fills  the  circuit  wide. 
That  tells  us  whence  the  treasure  is  supplied. — Cowper. 

THE  PATRIARCH. 

Behold  a  patriarch  of  years,  who  leaneth  on  the  staflP  o^ 
religion ; 

His  heart  is  fresh,  quick  to  feel,  a  bursting  fount  of  generosity ; 

lie,  playful  in  his  wisdom,  is  gladdened  in  his  children's  glad- 
ness. 

He,  pure  in  his  experience,  loveth  in  his  son's  first  love : 

Lofty  aspirations,  deep  affections,  holy  hopes  are  his  delight ; 

His  abhorrence  is  to  strip  from  life  its  charitable  garment  of 
ideal. 

The  shrewd  world  laughed  at  him  for  honesty,  the  vain  world 
mouthed  at  him  for  honor. 

The  false  world  hated  him  for  truth,  the  cold  world  despised 
him  for  affection. 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  37 

Still,  he  kept  his  treasure,  the  warm  and  noble  heart, 
And  in  that  happy  old  man  survive  the  child  and  lover. 

Tapper, 

The  Bible. — I  will  answer  for  it,  the  longer 
you  read  the  Bible,  the  more  you  will  like  it ;  it 
will  grow  sweeter  and  sweeter ;  and  the  more 
you  get  into  the  spirit  of  it,  the  more  you  will  get 
into  the  spirit  of  Christ. — Romalne, 

Trials. — Outward  attacks  and  troubles  rather 
fix  than  unsettle  the  Christian,  as  tempests  from 
without  only  serve  to  root  the  oak  faster ;  whilst 
an  inward  canker  wiU  gradually  rot  and  decay 
it— if.  More, 

.  SALMASIUS. 
Salmasius  was  a  man  of  most  extraordinary 
abilities,  his  name  resounded  through  Europe,  and 
his  presence  was  earnestly  sought  in  different 
nations.  When  he  arrived  at  the  evening  of 
life,  he  acknowledged  that  he  had  too  much,  and 
too  earnestly  engaged  in  literary  pursuits.  "  O  !'' 
said  he,  "  I  have  lost  an  immense  portion  of  time ; 
time,  that  most  precious  thing  in  the  world  i 
Had  I  but  one  year  more,  it  should  be  spent  in 
studying    David's    Psalms    and    Paul's   Epistles. 


38  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

Oh !  sirs,"  said  he  to  those  about  him,  "  mind 
the  world  less,  and  God  more.  '  The  fear  of  the 
Lord,  that  is  wisdom;  and  to  depart  from  evil, 
that  is  understanding.'  " — Fike, 

BLESSEDNESS  OF  HEAVEN. 
On  a  certain  day  known  only  to  the  Lord,  the 
reign  of  the  Prince  of  Peace  will  commence  ; 
when  instead  of  the  vicissitudes  of  day  and  night, 
joy  and  sorrow,  that  are  now  known,  there  shall 
be  uninterrupted  light,  infinite  splendor,  unchange- 
able peace,  and  everlasting  rest.  Then  thou 
wilt  no  longer  say,  "  Who  shall  deliver  me  from 
the  body  of  this  death  f  nor  exclaim,  "  Woe  is 
me  that  my  pilgrimage  is  prolonged  !"  for  "  death 
shall  be  swallowed  up  in  victory,"  and  "  the 
corruptible  will  have  put  on  incorruption."  Then 
"  all  tears  shall  be  wiped  from  thy  eyes,"  and  all 
sorrow  taken  from  thy  heart;  and  thou  shalt 
enjoy  perpetual  delight  in  the  lovely  society  of 
angels,  and  the  "  spirits  of  the  just  made  perfect." 
-  Thomas  a  Keinpis. 


O  WAS  it  possible  for  thee  to  behold  the  un- 
fading brightness  of  those  crowns  which  the 
blessed  wear  in  heaven :    and  w  ith  w  hat  trium- 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  39 

pliant  glory  they,  whom  the  world  once  despised, 
and  thought  unworthy  of  life  itself,  are  now 
invested ;  verily,  thou  wouldst  humble  thyself  to 
the  dust,  and  rather  choose  to  be  inferior  to  all 
men,  than  superior  even  to  one ;  instead  of  sigh- 
ing for  the  perpetual  enjoyment  of  the  pleasures 
of  this  life,  thou  wouldst  rejoice  in  suffering  all  its 
afflictions  for  the  sake  of  God  ;  and  wouldst  count 
it  great  gain  to  be  despised  and  rejected  as  noth- 
ing among  men. —  Thomas  a  Keiiipis. 

ELLIOT  IN  HIS  OLD  AGE. 

On  the  day  of  his  death,  in  his  eightieth  year, 
EUiot,  "  the  apostle  of  the  Indians,"  was  found 
teaching  the  alphabet  to  an  Indian  child  at  his 
bed-side.  "  Why  not  rest  from  your  labors  now  1" 
said  a  friend.  "  Because,"  said  the  venerable 
man,  "  I  have  prayed  to  God  to  render  me  useful 
in  my  sphere  ;  and  he  has  heard  my  prayers  ;  for 
now  that  1  can  no  longer  preach,  he  leaves  me 
strength  enough  to  teach  this  poor  child  his 
alphabet." 

The  best  prayers  have  often  more  groans  than 
words. — Bunyan. 


40  THE      EVENING      Or      LIFE. 

LIVE  m  VIEW  OF  DEATH. 

So  live,  that  when  thy  summons  comes  to  join 

The  innumerable  caravan,  that  moves 

To  the  pale  realms  of  shade,  where  each  shall  take 

His  chamber  in  the  silent  halls  of  death, 

Thou  go  not,  like  the  quarry  slave  at  night, 

Scourged  to  his  dungeon  ;  but,  sustained  and  soothed 

By  an  unfaltering  trust,  approach  thy  grave 

Like  one  who  wraps  the  drapery  of  his  couch 

About  him,  and  lies  down  to  pleasant  dreams. — Bryant. 

PRAYER. 

I  HAVE  seen  a  lark  rising  from  his  bed  of  grass 
and  soaring  upwards,  singing  as  he  rises,  in  hopes 
to  get  to  heaven  and  cHmb  above  the  clouds ; 
but  the  poor  bird  w^as  beaten  back  w^ith  the  loud 
sighing  of  an  eastern  wind,  and  his  motion  made 
irregular  and  inconstant,  descending  more  at  every 
breath  of  the  tempest  than  all  the  vil)rations  of 
his  wings  served  to  exalt  him,  till  the  little 
creature  was  forced  to  sit  down  and  pant,  and 
stay  till  the  storm  was  overpast;  and  then  it 
made  a  prosperous  flight;  for  then  it  did  rise  and 
sing  as  if  it  had  learned  music  and  motion  from 
some  angel  as  he  passed  some  time  through  the 
air.     So  is  the   prayer   of  the   good   man  when 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  4 1 

agitated  by  any  passion.  He  fain  would  speak 
to  God,  and  his  words  are  of  the  earth,  earthy ; 
he  would  look  to  his  Maker,  but  he  could  not 
help  seeing  also  that  which  distracted  him,  and  a 
tempest  was  raised  and  the  man  overruled  ;  his 
prayer  was  broken  and  his  thoughts  were  troubled, 
and  his  words  ascended  to  the  clouds,  and  the 
wandering  of  his  imagination  recalled  them,  and 
in  all  the  fluctuating  varieties  of  passion  they  are 
never  hke  to  reach  God  at  all.  But  he  sits  him 
down  and  sighs  over  his  infirmity,  and  fixes  his 
thoughts  upon  things  above,  and  forgets  all  the 
little  vain  passages  of  this  life,  and  his  spirit  is 
becalmed,  and  his  soul  is  even  and  still,  and  then 
it  softly  and  sweetly  ascends  to  heaven  on  the 
wings  of  the  Holy  Dove,  and  dwells  with  God, 
till  it  returns,  hke  the  useful  bee,  loaded  with  a 
blessing  and  the  dew  of  heaven. — Jeremy  Taylo? 

CLOUDY  DAYS. 
A  BLACK  cloud  makes  the  traveUer  mend  his 
pace,  and  mind  his  home;  whereas  a  fair  day 
and  a  pleasant  way  waste  his  time,  and  that 
stealeth  away  his  affections  in  the  prospect  of  the 
country.      However  others  may  think  of  it,  vet 


42  THE       EVENING       OF      LIFE. 

I  take  it  as  a  mercy,  that  now  and  then  some 
clouds  come  between  me  and  my  sun,  and  ma^xj 
times  some  troubles  do  conceal  my  comforts ;  for 
I  perceive,  if  T  should  find  too  much  friendship 
in  my  inn,  in  my  pilgrimage,  I  should  soon  forget 
my  father's  house  and  my  heritage. — Lucas. 

THE  CHRISTIAN  ON  EARTH  AND  IN  HEAVEN. 
Sometimes  I  look  upon  myself,  and  say, 
"  Where  am  I  now  ?"  and  do  quickly  return 
answer  to  myself  again,  "  Why,  I  am  in  an  evil 
world,  a  great  way  from  heaven,  in  a  sinful 
world,  among  devils  and  wicked  men ;  some- 
times benighted,  sometimes  beguiled,  sometimes 
fearing,  sometimes  hoping,  sometimes  breath- 
ing, sometimes  dying."  But  then  I  turn  the 
tables,  and  say,  "  But  where  shall  I  be  shortly  1 
Where  shall  I  see  myself  anon  after  a  few  times 
more  have  passed'  over  me  ?"  and  when  I  can 
but  answer  this  question  thus  :  "  I  shall  see  my- 
self with  Jesus  Christ;"  this  yields  glory,  even 
glory  to  one's  spirit  now. — Bunyan. 

SONNET,  "ADIEU,  MY  YOUTH  I" 

[from  the  ITALIAN.] 

Adieu,  my  youth  !  without  one  sigh  adieu ! 
Deceits,  enchantments,  struggles,  longings,  dreams. 


THE      EVENING       OF      LIFE.  43 

Delusions,  follies — (no  light  load  meseems  !) — 

Take  all  !    Cast  to  the  winds  thy  retinue. 

The  mind  swollen  out  with  mists  which  hide  from  view 

A  host  of  daring  thoughts  that  scorn  the  wise — 

And  wandering  love,  fresh  arrows,  as  he  flies, 

Infixing  stilj^ — and  hatreds  fierce,  though  few ! 

An  eve  serene  and  still,  my  soul,  sore  tried 

With  earthly  warfare,  courts.     My  youth,  adieu  ! 

But  not  adieu  forever.     Yet  again, 

I  trust  to  meet — to  dwell  in  thee — not  vain. 

And  frail,  and  fallen,  as  now,  but  born  anew. 

Stainless,  redeemed,  immortal,  glorified  ! 

DEATH  OF  ROBERT  BRUCE. 

Mr.  Robert  Bruce,  the  morning  before  he 
died,  being  at  breakfast,  having,  as  he  used,  taken 
an  egg,  said  to  his  daughter,  "  I  think  I  am  jet 
hungry  ;  you  may  bring  me  another  egg."  But 
having  mused  awhile,  he  said,  "  Hold,  daughter 
hold,  my  Master  calls  me'.'  With  these  words  his 
sight  failed  him  ;  on  which  he  called  for  the 
Bible,  and  said,  "  Turn  to  the  eighth  chapter  of 
he  Romans,  and  set  my  finger  on  the  words, — 
I  am  persuaded  that  neither  death,  nor  hfe,  &c., 
shall  be  able  to  separate  me  from  the  love  of 
God,  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  my  Lord.'" 
When  this  was  done,  he  said,  "  Now  is  my  fin- 


44  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

ger  upon  them  V  Being  told  that  it  was,  he 
added,  "  Now,  God  be  with  you,  my  dear  chil- 
dren :  I  have  breakfasted  with  you,  and  shall 
sup  with  my  Lord  Jesus  Christ  this  night ;"  and 
then  he  expired. —  Whitecrosss  Anmiotes. 

THE  EVENING  OF  LIFE. 

There  is  a  heahng  in  the  bitter  cup.  God 
takes  away  or  removes  from  us  those  we  love,  as 
hostages  of  our  faith  (if  I  may  so  express  it)  ; 
and  to  those  who  look  forward  to  a  re-union  in 
another  world,  where  there  will  be  no  separation 
and  no  mutability,  except  that  which  arises  h*om 
perpetual  progressiveness,  the  evening  of  life 
becomes  more  delightful  than  the  morning,  and 
the  sunset  offers  brighter  and  lovelier  visions  than 
those  which  we  build  in  the  morning  clouds,  and 
which  appear  before  the  strength  of  the  day. 
And  faith  is  that  precious  alchemy  which  trans- 
nutes  grief  into  joy  ;  or,  rather,  it  is  the  pure  and 
heavenly  euphrasy,  which  clears  away  the  film 
from  our  mortal  sight,  and  makes  affliction  appear 
what  it  really  is,  a  dispensation  of  mercy. 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  45 

GOD'S  MERCY. 
The  mercy  of  God  is  a  huge  ocean  ;  from  eter- 
nal ages  it  dwelt  round  about  the  throne  of  God, 
and  it  filled  all  that  infinite  distance  and  space  that 
hath  no  measures  but  the  will  of  God  ;  until  God, 
desiring  to  communicate  that  excellency,  created 
angek,  that  he  might  have  persons  capable  of  huge 
gifts ;  and  man,  who  he  knew  would  need  forgive- 
ness. For  so  the  angels,  our  elder  brothers,  dwelt 
for  ever  in  the  house  of  their  Father,  and  never 
broke  his  commandments ;  but  we,  the  younger, 
like  prodigals,  forsook  our  Father's  house,  and 
went  into  a  strange  country,  and  followed  stranger 
courses,  and  spent  the  portion  of  our  nature,  and 
forfeited  all  our  title  to  the  family,  and  came  to 
need  another  portion.  For,  ever  since  the  fall  of 
Adam,  who,  like  an  unfortunate  man,  spent  all 
that  a  wretched  man  could  need,  or  a  happy  man 
could  have,  our  life  is  repentance,  and  forgiveness 
is  all  our  portion ;  and  though  angels  were 
objects  of  God's  bounty,  yet  man  only  is,  in  pro- 
per speaking,  the  object  of  his  mercy;  and  the 
mercy  that  dwelt  in  an  infinite  circle  became 
confined  to  a  httle  ring,  and  dwelt  here  below; 
and  here  shall  dwell  below,  till  it  hath  carried  all 


46  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

God's  portion  up  to  heaven,  where  it  shall  reign 
in  glory  upon  our  crowned  heads  for  ever  and 
ever  ! — Jeremy  Taylor, 

THE  GOODNESS  OF  GOD  THE  SOLACE  OF  THE  AGED. 
See  how  old  age  spoils  the  relish  of  outward 
dehghts,  in  the  example  of  Barzillai,  2  Sam.  xix. 
35  ;  but  it  makes  not  this  (the  graciousness  of 
God)  distasteful.  Therefore  the  Psalmist  prays, 
that  when  other  comforts  forsake  him  and  wear 
out,  when  they  ebb  from  him,  and  leave  him  on 
the  sand,  this  may  not :  that  still  he  may  feed  on 
the  goodness  of  God.  "  Cast  me  not  off  in  old 
age,  forsake  me  not  when  my  strength  faileth." 
It  is  the  continual  influence  of  his  graciousness 
that  makes  them  grow  like  "cedars  of  Lebanon," 
tliat  makes  them  "  bring  forth  fruit  in  old  age,  and 
to  be  still  fat  and  flourishing ;  to  show  that  the 
Lord  is  upright,"  as  it  is  there  added,  that  he  is 
(as  the  w^ord  imports)  still  like  himself^  and  his 
goodness  ever  the  same. — Leighton. 

THE  WHOLE  FAMILY  IN  HEAVEN  AND  EARTH. 
"  The    whole  family  in    heaven    and   earth." 
The  difference  betwixt  us  and  them  is,  not  that 
we   are  really  tw^o,  but  one  body  in   Christ,  in 


THE      EVENING       OF      LIFE.  47 

divers  places.  True,  we  are  below  stairs,  and 
the  J  above  ;  tliej  in  their  holiday,  and  we  in 
oar  working-day  clothes  ;  they  in  harbor,  but  we 
in  the  storm;  they  at  rest,  but  we  in  the  wildei- 
ness ;  they  singing,  as  crowned  with  joy,  we 
crying,  as  crowned  with  thorns.  But  we  are  »11 
of  one  house,  one  family,  and  are  all  children  of 
one  Father. — Bunyan, 

PSALM  OF  LIFE. 

Tell  me  not  in  mournful  numbers, 

Life  is  but  an  empty  dream ! 
For  the  soul  is  dead  that  slumbers. 

And  things  are  not  what  they  seem. 

Life  is  real !  Life  is  earnest ! 

And  the  grave  is  not  its  goal ; 
"  Dust  thou  art,  to  dust  returnest," 

Wiis  not  spoken  to  the  soul. 

Not  enjoyment,  and  not  sorrow, 

Is  our  destined  end  or  way  ; 
But  to  act,  that  each  to-morrow 

Find  us  farther  than  to-day. 

Art  is  long,  and  Time  is  fleeting. 

And  our  hearts,  though  stout  and  brave. 

Still,  like  muffled  drums,  are  beating 
Funeral  marches  to  the  ojrave. 


48  THE      EVENING      OF      L  I  F  K  . 

In  the  world's  broad  field  of  battle, 

In  the  bivouac  of  Life, 
Be  not  like  dumb,  driven  cattle  I 

Be  a  hero  in  the  strife  ! 

Trust  no  Future,  howe'er  pleasant ! 

Let  the  dead  Past  bury  its  dead ! 
Act ; — act  in  the  living  Present ! 

Heart  within,  and  God  o'erhead ! 

Lives  of  great  men  all  remind  us 

We  can  make  our  lives  subHme, 
And,  departing,  leave  behind  us  ^ 

Footprints  on  the  sands  of  time. 

Footprints,  that  perhaps  another, 

Sailing  o'er  Ufe's  solemn  main, 
A  forlorn  and  shipwrecked  brother. 

Seeing,  shall  take  heart  again. 

Let  us,  then,  be  up  and  doing, 

With  a  heart  for  any  fate ; 
Still  achieving,  still  pursuing, 

Learn  to  labor  and  to  wait.  Longfellow. 

Things  to  remember.— Be  often  remembering 
what  a  blessed  thing  it  is  to  be  saved,  to  go  to 
heaven,  to  be  made  Hke  angels,  and  to  dwell  with 
Crod  and  Christ  to  all  eternity. — Bunyan, 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  49 

SANCTIFICATION. 

In  the  sanctified  heart,  "  every  mountain  is 
brought  low,  and  every  valley  is  filled."  Every- 
thing within  us  which  exalts  itself  in  the  pride 
and  love  of  nature,  is  cast  out  or  abased. 

And  again,  in  the  sanctified  soul  "  every  valley 
is  filled,"  by  being  occupied  with  God  and  with 
Jesus  Christ  only  It  is  a  great  truth,  that  God 
does  not  and  cannot  fill  the  soul  with  himself, 
until  he  first  empties  it  of  everything  which  is 
not  himself  The  mountain,  which  may  be 
regarded  as  another  name  for  the  exaltation  of 
nature,  must  first  be  brought  low,  and  must  be 
cast  out.  And  into  this  void  or  valley,  where  a 
man  may  be  said  to  possess  himself  without  him- 
self, God  enters  and  fills  it  up.  Truth  takes  the 
place  of  error.  Holy  dispositions  take  the  place 
of  unholy  dispositions ;  and  God,  who  embodies 
in  himself  all  truth  and  all  holiness,  and  who 
always  creates  that  immortal  image  which  bears 
his  own  likeness,  can  never  be  absent  where  true 
and  holy  dispositions  exist.  In  such  dispositions, 
of  which  he  is  the  true  fight  and  life,  he  not  only 
is,  but  7nust  be.  Without  God  in  them,  they 
cannot  exist.     Thev  are  God's  [lor.io. 


50  THE       EVENING      OF     LIFE. 

The  subjection  of  human  selfishness  by  holy 
love,  and  the  subjection  of  the  human  wdll  by 
union  with  the  divine  will ; — it  is  these  which 
constitute  a  truly  renovated  nature,  and  which, 
because  they  thus  constitute  the  same  nature 
with  Christ's  nature,  may  be  said  to  make  Christ 
within  us.  Christ,  in  some  future  years,  will 
come  visibly  in  the  clouds  of  heaven.  Oh !  let 
us  labor  for  his  present  coming ;  not  for  a  Christ 
in  the  clouds,  but  for  a  Christ  in  the  affections ; 
not  for  a  Christ  seen,  but  for  a  Christ  fek;  not 
for  a  Christ  outwardly  represented,  but  for  a 
Christ  inwardly  reahsed. — Madame  Guy  on, 

PRAYER  FOR  SANCTIFICATION. 
O  Holy  Spirit,  a  Spirit  of  love !  let  me  ever 
be  subjected  to  thy  will ;  and  as  a  leaf  is  moved 
before  the  wind,  so  let  my  soul  be  influenced  and 
moved  by  the  breath  of  thy  wisdom.  And  as  the 
mpetuous  wind  breaks  down  all  that  resists  it, 
even  the  tow^ering  cedars  which  stand  in  opposi- 
tion; so  may  the  Holy  Ghost,  operating  within 
me,  smite  and  break  down  everything  which 
opposes  him. — Madame  Guyon, 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE  51 

DYING  WORDS  OF  PAYSON. 
Dr.  Payson  in  his  last  illness  once  said :  "  1 
have  suffered  twenty  times, — yes,  to  speak  within 
bounds,  twenty  times  as  much  as  I  could  in  being 
burnt  at  the  stake,  while  my  joy  in  God  so 
abounded,  as  to  render  my  sufferings  not  only 
tolerable,  but  welcome.  The  sufferings  of  this 
present  time  are  not  worthy  to  be  compared  with 
the  glory  that  shall  be  revealed.  God  is  my  all 
in  all.  While  he  is  present  with  me,  no  event 
can  in  the  least  diminish  my  happiness;  and 
were  the  whole  world  at  my  feet,  trying  to  min- 
ister to  my  comfort,  they  could  not  add  one  drop 
to  the  cup."  On  another  occasion  he  said, 
"  Death  comes  every  night  and  stands  at  my  bed- 
side in  the  form  of  terrible  convulsions,  every  one 
of  which  threatens  to  separate  the  soul  from  the 
body.  These  continue  to  grow  worse  and  worse, 
until  every  bone  is  almost  dislocated  with  pain, 
leaving  me  with  the  certainty  that  I  shall  have  it 
all  to  endure  again  the  next  night.  Yet  while 
my  body  is  thus  tortured,  the  soul  is  perfectly 
happy,  perfectly  happy  and  peaceful,  more  happy 
than  I  can  possibly  express  to  you.  I  lie  here, 
and  feel  these  convulsions  extending  higher  and 


62  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

higher,  but  my  soul  is  filled  with  joy  unspeakable. 
I  seem  to  swim  in  a  flood  of  glory,  wliich  God 
pours  down  upon  me." — Paysons  Life. 

THE  AFFLICTED  BELIEVER. 
We  may  compare  an  afflicted  beUever  to  a 
Qian  that  lias  an  orchard  laden  with  fruit,  who, 
because  the  wind  has  blown  off  the  leaves,  sits 
down  and  weeps.  If  one  asks,  "  What  do  you 
weep  for  1"  "  Why,  my  apple  leaves  are  gone." 
"  But  have  you  not  your  apples  left  1"  "  Yes." 
"  Very  well,  then  do  not  grieve  for  a  few  leaves 
which  could  only  hinder  the  ripening  of  your 
fruit." — Cecil, 

BENEFIT  OF  AFFLICTION'. 
I  HAVE  before  me  two  stones,  which  are  an  imi- 
tation of  precious  stones.  They  are  both  perfectly 
aliKe  in  color ;  they  are  of  the  same  water,  clear, 
pure,  and  clean ;  yet  there  is  a  marked  difference 
between  them  as  to  their  lustre  and  brilliancy. 
One  has 'a  dazzhng-brightness,  while  the  other 
is  dull,  so  that  the  eye  passes  over  it,  and  derives 
no  pleasure  from  the  sight.  What  can  be  the 
reason  of  the  difference  1     It  is  this :  the  one  is 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  63 

cut  in  but  a  few  faQets ;  the  other  has  ten  times 
as  many.     These  facets  are  produced  by  a  very 
violent    operation.        It    is    requisite    to    cut,    to 
smooth,    and    poUsh.       Had   these    stones  been 
indued  with  hfe,  so  as  to  have  been  capable  of 
feehng  what  they  underwent,  the  one  which  has 
received  eighty  fagets,  would  have  thought  itself 
very  unhappy,  and  would  have  envied  the  fate  erf 
the  other,  which,  having  received  but  eight,  had 
undergone    but    a    tenth    part    of  its    sufferings. 
Nevertheless,  the  operation  being  over,  it  is  done 
for  ever ;  the  difference  between  the  two  stones 
always  remains  strongly  marked  ;  that  which  has 
suffered  but  little,  is  entirely  echpsed  by  the  other, 
which   alone   is   held  in  estimation  and  attracts 
attention.      May   not  this  serve   to   explain  the 
saying     of     our    Saviour,    whose     words    have 
reference  to  eternity  1    "  Blessed  are  those  who 
mourn,    for    they   shall  be  comforted," — blessed, 
whether  we  contemplate  them  apart,  or  in  com- 
parison with  those  who  have  not  passed  through 
so  many  trials.     Oh  !  that  we  were  always  able 
to  cast  ourselves  into  his  arms,  like  little  children  ; 
to  dravv  near  to  him,  like  young  lambs,  and  ever 
to   ask   of  him,  patience,  resignation,  an   entire 


54  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE 

surrender  to  his  will,  faith,  trust,  and  heartfelt 
obedience  to  the  commands  which  he  gives  to 
those  who  are  wiUing  to  be  his  disciples.  "  The 
Lord  wdll  wipe  away  tears  from  off  all  faces." 
— Oherlin. 

PEACE  OF  MIND. 

A  FRIEND  once  asked  Prof  Francke,  who 
founded  the  Orphan- house  at  Halle,  how  he  main- 
tained so  constant  a  peace  of  mind ;  the  benevo- 
lent and  good  man  replied, — "  By  stirring  up  my 
mind  a  hundred  times  a  day.  Wherever  I  am, 
whatever  I  do,  I  say, — '  Blessed  Jesus,  have  I 
truly  a  share  in  thy  redemption  ?  Are  my  sins 
forgiven  ?  Am  I  guided  by  thy  spirit  ?  Thine 
1  am — w^ash  me  again  and  again.'  By  this 
(Xjnstant  converse  with  Jesus  I  have  enjoyed 
serenity  of  mind,  and  a  settled  peace  in  my  soul." 

PRAYER  OF  THE  AGED. 

But  while  from  one  extreme  thy  power  may  keep 

My  erring  frailty,  0,  preserve  me  still 
From  dullness,  nor  let  cold  indifference  steep 

My  senses  in  oblivion  :  if  the  thrill 
Of  earihly  bliss  must  sober,  as  it  wiU 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  55 

And  should,  when  earthly  things  to  heavenly  yield. 
T  would  have  feelings  left  time  cannot  chill ; 

That  while  I  yet  can  walk  through  grove  or  field, 
1  may  be  conscious  there  of  charms  by  thee  revealed. 

And  when  I  shall,  as  soon  or  late  I  must. 
Become  infirm,  in  age  if  I  grow  old. 

Or  sooner,  if  my  strength  should  fail  its  trust, 
,  When  I  relinquish  haunts  where  I  have  strolled 

At  morn  or  eve,  and  can  no  more  behold 
Thy  glorious  works,  forbid  me  to  repine ; 

Let  memory  still  their  loveliness  unfold 
Before  my  mental  eye,  and  let  them  shine 

With  borrowed  hght  from  thee — for  they  are  thine. 

Barton, 

True  Wealth. — The  wealth  of  a  man  is  the 
number  of  things  which  he  loves  and  blesses 
which  he  is  loved  and  blessed  by. — Carlyle, 

Effects  of  Grace. — The  dispensation  of 
grace  is  to  some  little  more  than  a  continual 
combat  with  corruptions ;  so  that,  instead  of 
advancing,  a  man  seems  to  be  just  able  to  pre- 
erve  himself  from  sinking.  A  boat,  with  the  full 
tide  against  it,  does  well  if  it  can  keep  from  driv- 
ing back,  and  must  have  strong  force  indeed  to 
get  forward.  We  must  estimate  grace  by  the 
opposition  it  meets  with. — Cecil. 


56  THE      EVENING       OF      LIFE 


THE  AGED  COMFORTER. 

Tis  true  that  more  tlian  fourscore  years  have  bowed  thy  beauty 

low, 
And  mingled  with  thy  cup  of  life  full  many  a  dreg  of  woe ; 
But  yet  thou  hast  a  better  charm  than  bloom  of  youth  hath 

found — 
A  balm  within  thy  chastened  heart  to  heal  another's  wound. 

Sigourney. 


ANECDOTE  OF  DR.  COGSWELL. 

An  affecting  anecdote  is  related  of  Dr.  Cogs- 
well, a  faithful  minister  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  eight j-nine.  It  shows  "  the 
ruling  passion  strong  in  death."  During  his  last 
illness  he  forgot  his  dearest  friends,  and  even  his 
own  name.  When  asked  if  he  remembered  his 
son  (wdth  whom  he  lived,  and  to  whom  he  was 
much  attached),  he  replied,  "  I  do  not  recollect 
that  ever  I  had  a  son;"  but  when  asked  if  he 
remembered  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  he  revived  at 
once,  exclaiming,  "  Oh  !  yes,  I  do  remember  him  , 
he  is  my  God  and  my  Redeemer !" 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  57 

THE  FLIGHT  OF  TIME. 

The  dial-plate  warns  you  that  minutes  are  fleeting, 
Each  pulse  but  wears  out  the  heart  that  is  beating ; 
Each  tick  of  the  clock  is  ever  repeating — 
"  Up  and  be  doing  !  for  Night  draweth  on !" 

Knickerbocker  {Mag) 

TRUST  IN  GOD. 
Examples  of  the  loving-kindness  of  God  to  his 
aged  servants  have  been  recorded  in  his  word  for 
our  learning ;  that  believers,  if  God  by  his  provi- 
dence should  bring  them   to   old   age,  might  be 
encouraged    to    trust   in   the   God   of  Abraham, 
Isaac,  and  Jacob,  with  such  a  confidence  of  their 
hearts  as  not  to  doubt  of  the  divine  truth  or  of 
the   divine  power.     Whatever  he  was  to  them, 
he  is  the  same  to  us — our  God  as  well  as  theirs 
— our   covenant    God,   engaged    to   glorify   both 
body  and  soul :  on  whom  we  are  commanded  to 
cast  all  our  cares  and  concerns  in  extreme  old 
age.     If  what  is  of  nature  be   failing,  what  is  of 
grace  cannot.     If  the  life  of  sense  be  dying,  the 
life  of  faith  should  flourish  the  more.     It  is  a  Hfe 
that  cannot  die;    for   tie   branches  thrive    and 
bring  forth   huit  in  their  old  age,  not  of  them- 

4 


58  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE 

seK*es,  but  because  they  are  ingrafted  into  the 
heavenly  vine,  in  which  they  hve  for  ever.  "  I 
am  the  vine  (says  Jesus),  ye  are  the  branches ; 
he  that  abideth  in  me,  and  I  in  him,  the  same 
bringeth  forth  much  fruit :  for  without  me  ye  can 
do  nothing."  But  through  his  spirit  strengthen- 
ing you,  he  will  make  you  bud  and  flourish,  and 
fill  the  face  of  the  world  with  fruit.  He  will  so 
fill  you  with  the  fruits  of  righteousness,  which 
are  through  Christ  Jesus,  to  the  glory  and  praise 
of  God,  that  your  last  days  will  be  your  best 
days. — Ro7naine. 

SAYINGS  OF  JOHN  NEWTON. 

Two  or  three  years  before  the  excellent  John 
Newton's  death,  when  his  sight  was  become  so 
dim,  that  he  was  no  longer  able  to  read,  an  aged 
friend  and  brother  in  the  ministry  called  on  bim, 
to  breakfast.  Family  prayer  succeeding,  the  por- 
tion of  Scripture  for  the  day  was  read  to  him. 
It  was  taken  from  Bogatzky's  Golden  Treasury: 
"By  the  grace  of  God  I  am  what  I  am."  It 
was  the  pious  man's  custom,  on  these  occasions, 
to  make  a  short  familiar  exposition  of  the  pass- 
age read.       After  the  reading'  of  this  text,    he 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  69 

paused  for  some  moments,  and  then  uttered  the 
following  aifecthig  sohloquy  : — "  I  am  not  what  I 
ought  to  be.  Ah !  how  imperfect  and  deficient. 
I  am  not  what  I  wish  to  be.  I  abhor  what  is 
evil,  and  I  would  cleave  to  what  is  good.  I  am 
not  what  I  hope  to  be:  soon,  soon  I  shall  put  off 
mortahty,  and  with  mortality  all  sin  and  imper- 
fection Yet  though  I  am  not  what  I  ought  to 
be,  nor  what  I  ivish  to  be,  nor  what  I  hoiie  to  be, 
I  can  truly  say  I  am  not  what  I  once  was, — a 
slave  to  sin  and  Satan ;  and  I  can  heartily  join 
with  the  apostle,  and  acknowledge,  '  By  the 
grace  of  God  I  am  what  I  am.'  Let  us  pray." — 
Whitecross  A necdotes, 

THE  CHRISTIAN  PILGRIMAGE. 

The  Christian's  fellowship  with 'God  is  rather 
a  habit  than  a  rapture.  He  is  a  pilgrim  who  has 
the  habit  of  looking  forward  to  the  light  before 
him  ;  he  has  the  habit  of  not  looking  back  ;  he 
has  the  habit  of  walking  steadily  in  the  way 
whatever  be  the  weather,  and  whatever  the  road. 
These  are  his  habits,  and  the  Lord  of  tbe  way 
is  his  Guide  Protector,  Friend,  and  Felicity. — 
Cecil. 


60  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE 


THE  LAND  OF  BEULAH 

Were  I  to  adopt  the  figurative  language  of 
Bunjan,  T  might  date  this  letter  from  the  land 
of  Beulah,  of  which  I  have  been  for  some  weeks 
a  happy  inhabitant.  The  celestial  city  is  full  in 
my  view.  Its  glories  beam  upon  me,  its  breezes 
fan  me,  its  odors  are  wafted  to  me,  its  sounds 
•strike  upon  my  ears,  and  its  spirit  is  breathed 
into  my  heart.  Nothing  separates  me  from  it 
but  the  river  of  death,  which  now  appears  but  an 
insignificant  rill,  that  may  be  crossed  at  a  single 
step,  whenever  God  shall  give  permission.  The 
sun  of  righteousness  has  been  gradually  drawing 
nearer  and  nearer,  appearing  larger  and  brighter 
as  he  approached,  and  now  he  fills  the  whole 
hemisphere,  pouring  forth  a  flood  of  glory,  in 
which  I  seem  to  float  like  an  insect  in  the  beams 
of  the  sun  ;  exulting,  yet  almost  trembling  while 
I  gaze  on  this  excessive  brightness,  and  wonder- 
ing, with  unutterable  wonder,  why  God  should 
deign  thus  to  shine  upon  a  sinful  worm.  A  sin- 
gle heart  and  a  single  tongue  seem  altogether 
inadequate  to  my  wants :  I  want  a  whole  heart 
for  every  separate  emotion,  and  a  whole  tongue 


THE      EVENING       OF      LIFE.  61 

to  express  that  emotion. — Paijson,  {Letter  to  a 
sister.) 

Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled  :  ye  beHeve 
in  God,  beUeve  also  in  me.  In  my  Father's 
house  are  many  mansions  :  if  it  were  not  so,  I 
would  have  told  you.  T  go  to  prepare  a  place 
for  you.  And  if  I  go  to  prepare  a  place  for  you, 
I  will  come  again  and  receive  you  unto  myself; 
that  where  I  am,  there  ye  may  be  also.  —  John 
xiv.  1,  2,  3. 

THE  BRUISED  REED. 
"  A  BRUISED  reed  will  he  not  break."  Perhaps 
the  imagery  may  be  derived  from  the  practice  of 
the  ancient  shepherds,  who  were  wont  to  amuse 
themselves  with  the  music  of  a  pipe  of  reed  or 
straw  ;  and  when  it  was  bruised  they  broke  it, 
or  threw  it  away  as  useless.  But  the  bruised 
reed  shall  not  be  broken  by  this  divine  shepherd 
of  souls.  The  music  of  broken  sighs  and  groans 
is  indeed  all  that  the  broken  reed  can  afford  him  : 
the  notes  are  but  low,  melancholy,  and  jarring ; 
and  yet  he  will  not  break  the  instrument,  but  he 
wiU  repair  and  tune  it,  till  it  is  fit  to  join  in  the 


62  THE      EVENING       OF       1.  I  F  E. 

concert  of  angels  on  high;  and  even  now  is 
humble  strains  are  pleasing  to  his  ears. — Pres 
Davies, 

THE  SEIORE  OF  TIME. 

Alone  I  walked  the  ocean  strand ; 

A  pearly  shell  was  in  ray  hand : 

I  stooped  and  wrote  upon  the  sand 

My  name — the  year — the  day. 

As  onward  from  the  spot  I  passed 

One  hngering  look  behind  I  cast : 

A  wave  came  rolling  high  and  fast, 

And  washed  my  hnes  away. 

And  so,  raethought,  'twill  shortly  be 
With  every  mark  on  earth  from  me  ; 
A  wave  of  dark  oblivion's  sea 
Will  sweep  aci-oss  the  place, 
Where  I  have  trod  the  sandy  shore 
Of  time,  and  been  to  be  no  more ; 
Of  me — my  day — the  name  I  bore, 
Nor  leave  nor  track,  nor  trace. 

And  yet,  with  Him  who  counts  the  sands, 

And  holds  the  waters  in  his  hands, 

1  know  a  lasting  record  stands 

Inscribed  against  my  name. 

Of  all  this  mortal  part  has  wroufrht ; 

Of  all  this  sinking  soul  has  thouo-ht; 

And  from  these  fleeting  moiiK^nts  caught 

For  glory,  or  for  ?\n\m<t.— Hannah  F.  Gould. 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  63 

SAINTS  OF  DIFFERENT  DEGREES. 
God  has  saints  of  several  degrees,  and  some 
/)f  them  have  more  communion  with  him  than 
others;  from  among  the  multitude  he  chose 
:welve  to  be  with  him ;  from  among  the  twelve 
Jie  chose  three,  Peter,  James,  and  John,  who 
o  were  of  the  privy  council ;  from  among  the  three 
^S  he  chose  out  John,  as  his  bosom-favorite,  of 
-g-o  ^whom  it  is  said  five  times  in  John's  gospel, 
X  £  ;  that  "  he  was  the  disciple  whom  Jesus  loved." 
1^  So  now,  at  this  day,  God  has  his  "  babes,"  who 
«  £  '  live  upon  milk ;  he  has  "  children  "  also,  who 
know  their  Father,  and  are  assured  of  his  love ; 
moreover,  he  has  his  "  young  men,"  who  go  out 


JO  OS 


<V    o 


J  o  ;  to  war,  and  fight  the  Lord's  battles  victoriously; 
and  he  has  "  fathers  "  in  Israel,  who  abound  in 
grey-headed  experience  and  wisdom ;  for  they 
knew  him  from  the  beginning,  and  they  remem- 
ber his  words.  It  is  a  great  mercy  to  be  one  of 
God's  "  little  ones,"  yea,  the  least  of  all,  to  be  a 
star,  though  not  of  the  first  magnitude;  to  be  a 
disciple,  though  not  a  John  ;  not  one  of  the  three, 
nor  one  of  the  twelve,  nor  one  of  the  seventy.  It 
is  a  mercy  to  be  new-born,  to  be  taken  into  the 
family  of  God,  and  household  of  faith.     But  to 


C4  THE       EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

grow  up  to  a  perfect  stature,  to  be  a  man  in 
Clirist  Jesus!  O  how  great  a  mercy!  Lord, 
thou  knowest  my  desires ;  ferfect  that  wnich 
concerns  thy  servant,  yea,  that  which  concerns 
all  thy  servants. — Bogatzky, 

We  have  not  a  high-priest  who  cannot  be 
touched  with  the  feehng  of  our  infirmities,  out 
was  in  all  points  tempted  like  as  we  are,  yet  with- 
out sin.  Let  us  therefore  come  boldly  unto  the 
throne  of  grace,  that  we  may  obtain  mercy,  and 
find  grace  to  help  in  time  of  need. — HeK 
iv.  15,  16. 

THE  FATHER'S  DEATH. 

There  are  children  round  their  father's  bed, 

And  his  last  farewell  is  given — 

There's  joy  in  their  grief — a  blessing  shed, 

At  once  from  their  sire  and  heaven. 

Deep  is  the  peace  that  reigns  around, 

Where  the  faithful  in  his  faith  is  crowned. 

For  the  Holiest  of  holies  is  o'ei  his  bed — 

The  Spirit  of  him  who  wakes  the  dead. — Stehhing, 

STUDY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 
If  thou  complainest  nothing  remains  on  thy 
memory,  therefore  thou  think  est  as  gooJ  to  give 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  65 

over  reading  as  thus  continually  to  pour  water  into 
a  sieve  ;  tiiis  should  rather  put  thee  on  a  more 
frequent  study  of  tlie  Scripture,  than  discourage 
thee  from  it,  A  vessel  set  under  the  fall  of  a 
spring  cannot  leak  faster  than  it  is  supplied 
Scripture  truths,  when  they  do  not  enrich  the 
memory,  may  yet  purify  the  heart.  Such  is  the 
irresistible  force  of  the  word,  the  Spirit  often 
darts  it  through  us  as  it  seems  but  a  flash  of 
lightning,  and  it  is  gone  ;  yet  it  may  melt  our 
hard  hearts  when  it  leaves  no  impression  on  our 
memories. — Bishop  Hopkins. 


TRUST  IN  GOD. 

"  By  thy  grace 
The  particle  divine  remained  unquenched  ; 
And  'mid  the  wild  weeds  of  a  rugged  soil, 
Thy  bounty  caused  to  flourish  deathless  flowers 
From  Paradise  transplanted  ;  wintry  age 
Impends  ;  the  frost  will  gather  round  m,y  heart ; 
If  the  flowers  wither,  I  am  worse  than  dead ! 
Come,  labor,  when  the  worn-out  frame  requires 
Perpetual  sabbath  ;  come,  disease  and  want, 
And  sad  exclusion  through  decay  of  sense  ; 
But  leave  me  unabated  trust  in  thee — 
And  let  thy  favor,  to  tlic  end  of  life, 

4* 


66  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

Inspire  me  with  ability  to  seek 

Repose  and  hope  among  eternal  things — 

Father  of  heaven  and  earth !  and  I  am  rich, 

And  will  possess  my  portion  in  content." —  Worasworth, 


Consolation  for  Sufferers. — If  your  Lord 
call  you  to  suffering,  be  not  dismayed ;  there 
shall  be  a  new  allowance  of  the  King  for  you, 
when  ye  come  to  it :  one  of  the  softest  pillows 
Christ  hath  is  laid  under  his  witnesses'  head, 
though  often  they  set  down  their  feet  among 
thorns. — Rutherford, 

AFFLICTION  THE  PORTION  OF  THE  SAINTS. 

It  is  not  wisdom  for  us  to  think  that  Christ 
and  the  gospel  will  come  and  sit  down  at  our 
fireside :  nay,  but  we  must  go  out  of  our  warm 
houses,  and  seek  Christ  and  his  gospel.  We 
must  set  our  face  against  what  may  befall  us,  in 
following  on  through  the  briers.  Our  soft  nature 
would  be  borne  through  the  troubles  of  this 
miserable  world  in  Christ's  arms ;  and  it  is  his 
wisdom,  who  knoweth  our  mould,  that  his  chil- 
dren go  wet-shod  and  cold-footed  to  heaven. 
Oh  !  how  sweet  a  thing  it  were   for  us  to  learn 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE-  67 

to  make  our  burdens  light,  by  framing  our  hearts 
to  the  burden,  and  making  our  Lord's  will  a 
law !  1  find  Christ  and  his  cross  not  so  ill  to 
please,  nor  yet  such  troublesome  guests  as  men 
call  them :  ere  long,  our  Master  will  bring  this 
whole  world  out  before  the  sun  and  daylight,  in 
their  blacks  and  whites.  Happy  are  they  who 
are  found  watching ;  our  saiid-glass  is  not  so 
long  as  we  need  to  weary  ;  time  will  eat  away 
and  root  out  our  woes  and  sorrow ;  our  heaven 
is  in  the  bud,  and  growing  up  to  an  harvest 
Why  then  should  we  not  follow  on,  seeing  our 
span-length  of  time  will  come  to  an  inch  *? 
Therefore  I  commend  Christ  to  you  as  the  staff 
of  your  old  age ;  let  him  now  have  the  rest  of 
your  days. 

Think  not  much  of  a  storm  upon  the  ship  that 
Christ  saileth  in  ;  there  shall  no  passenger  fall 
overboard,  but  the  crazed  ship  and  the  sea-sick 
passengers  shall  come  to  land  safe. — Rutherford. 

The  days  of  our  years  are  threescore  years 
and  ten  ;  and  if  by  reason  of  strength  they  be 
fourscore  years,  yet  is  their  strength  labor  and 
sorrow ;  for  it  is  soon   cut  off,  and  we  fly  away. 


I 


68  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE 

.  .  .  So  teach  us  to  number  our  dajs,  that 
we  may  apply  our  hearts  unto  wisdom.  —  Psalm 
xc.  10,  12. 

Like  as  a  father  pitieth  his  children,  so  the 
Lord  pitieth  them  that  fear  him.     For  he  know 
eth    our   frame ;    he    remembereth  that  we   are 
dust  —  Psalm  ciii.  13,  14. 

Whom  the  Lord  loveth  he  chasteneth,  and 
scourgetb  every  son  whom  he  receiveth.  —  Heh 
xii.  6. 

THE  ANGEL  OF  PATIENCE. 

To  weary  hearts,  to  mourning  homes, 

God's  meekest  angel  gently  comes  : 
No  power  has  he  to  banish  pain, 

Or  give  us  back  our  lost  again  ; 
And  yet  in  tenderest  love,  our  dear 

And  Heavenly  Father  sends  him  here. 

There's  quiet  in  that  angel's  glance  ; 

There's  rest  in  his  still  countenance ! 
He  mocks  no  grief  with  idle  cheer. 

Nor  wounds  with  words  the  mourner*s  ear ; 
But  ills  and  woes  he  cannot  cure. 

He  kindly  trains  us  to  endure. 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  69 

Angel  of  Patience  !  sent  to  calm 

Our  feverish  brows  with  cooling  palm  ; 

To  lay  the  storms  of  hope  and  fear, 
And  reconcile  life's  sinile  and  tear ; 

The  throbs  of  wounded  pride  to  still, 
And  make  our  own  our  Father's  will. 

Oh  !  thou  who  mournest  on  thy  way, 

With  longings  for  the  close  of  day  ; 
He  walks  with  thee,  that  angel  kind, 

And  gently  whispers,  "  Be  resigned : 
Bear  up,  bear  on,  the  end  shall  tell 

The  dear  Lord  ordereth  all  things  well !" 

J.  G.  Whither. 

Loss  OF  Children. — Let  your  children  be  as 
flowers  borrowed  from  God  ;  if  the  flowers  die 
or  wither,  thank  God  for  a  summer's  loan  of 
them,  and  keep  good  neighborhood,  to  borrow 
and  lend  with  him. — Ruthe?ford. 

HOPE  AMID  TRIALS. 

Let  my  Lord  Jesus  weave  my  span-length  ol 
time  with  white  and  black,  weal  and  woe,  as 
warp  and  woof  in  one  web  ;  and  let  the  rose  be 
neighbored  with  the  thorn ;  yet  Hope  that 
maketh  not  ashamed,  hath  written  a  letter  to  the 


70  THE      EVENING      OF     LIFE. 

mourners  in  Zion,  that  it  shall  not  be  long  so 
When  we  are  over  the  water,  Christ  shall  cry 
down  crosses,  and  hell,  and  death,  and  sin,  and 
sorrow,  and  up  glory,  life,  joy  for  evermore.  In 
this  hope  I  sleep  quietly  ;  and  would  sleep  so, 
were  it  not  the  noise  of  the  devil,  and  sin's  feet, 
and  the  cries  of  an  unbelieving  heart  awaken 
me ;  but  for  the  present,  I  have  nothing  whereof 
I  can  accuse  Christ's  cross. — Rutherford. 

THE  BELIEVER'S  DEATH. 

Though  a  behever  may  have  his  darkness, 
doubts,  and  fears,  and  many  conflicts  of  soul, 
while  on  his  dying  bed,  yet  usually  these  are  all 
over  and  gone,  before  his  last  moments  come. 
From  the  gracious  promises  of  God  to  be  with 
his  people  even  unto  death  ;  and  from  the  Scrip- 
tural accounts  of  dying  saints ;  and  from  the 
observations  I  have  made  through  the  course  of 
my  life,  I  am  of  opinion  that  generally  the  people 
of  God  die  comfortably;  their  spiritual  enemies 
being  made  to  be  as  still  as  a  stone,  while  they 
pass  through  Jordan. — Gill. 

As  a  man  that  takes  a  walk  in  his  garden,  and 
spying  a  beautiful  full-blown  flower,  crops  it  and 


THE       EVENING      OF      LIFE.  71 

puts  it  into  his  bosom,  so  the  Lord  takes  his 
walks  in  his  gardens,  the  churches,  and  gathers 
his  hhes,  souls  fully  ripe  for  glory,  and  with 
delight  takes  them  to  himself — Gill 

Prayer. — Sometimes,  perhaps,  thou  hearest 
another  Christian  pray  with  much  freedom  and 
fluency  while  thou  canst  hardly  get  out  a  few 
broken  words.  Hence,  thou  art  ready  to  accuse 
thyself  and  to  admire  him  ;  as  if  the  gilding  of 
the  key  made  it  open  the  door  the  better. — 
GurnalL  y 

NAOMI— THE  WIDOW  COMFORTED. 

The  book  of  Ruth  is  a  dehghtful  narrative. 
Its  charming  simplicity,  its  interesting  allusions 
to  the  customs  of  a  remote  age,  its  delineations  of 
character  so  fresh  and  hfelike,  its  sweet  pathos, 
and  the  pure  and  lofty  sentiments  which  it 
breathes,  have  ever  made  it  a  favorite  with  all 
readers  of  taste  and  feeling.  Many  are  the  points 
of  interest  w^iich  it  suggests,  but  our  present 
purpose  confines  us  to  the  evidence  it  furnishes 
that  Jehovah  is  the  widow's  God. 

This  narrative  shows  that,  through  all  the 
chanp-es   of  Naomi's  lot,  even  when    tlic  clouds 


72  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

lowered  most  darkly,  she  was  never  forsaken. 
Each  successive  trial  only  served  to  reveal  more 
clearly  the  power  and  mercy  of  her  fathers'  God 
Let,  then,  the  sorrowful  widow,  whose  tearful  eye 
may  trace  these  pages,  and  she,  especially,  wh< 
in  life's  dechne,  treasures  in  her  heart  the  mourn- 
ful memory  of  one  early  loved  but  too  early  lost, 
derive  strength  and  comfort  from  this  record  of 
God's  faithfulness  a^d  compassion. 

Naomi  is  now  in  a  strange  land,  whither  a 
famine  in  her  own  country  had  forced  her  family- 
It  is  a  land  of  spiritual  darkness,  and  she  is  far 
from  the  home  of  her  childhood ;  but  her  husband 
is  with  her,  and  we  may  believe  that,  leaning 
upon  him,  she  cheerfully  endures  the  pains  of 
exile.  And  they  hope,  perhaps,  ere  long  to  return 
to  their  beloved  Judea. 

But  who  can  foresee  the  clouds  that  may  darken 
the  future  1  In  their  happy  home  the  voice  of 
-anguish  is  at  length  heard.  Naomi  sits  "  beneath 
the  shadow  of  a  great  affliction."  She  is  a 
widow.  Her  staff  is  broken.  The  light  of  her 
dwelling  is  quenched.  Who  of  her  kindred  shall 
weep  with  her  1  Who  direct  her  to  Abraham's 
God  1     She  is  sad  and  desolate.     And  yet  Naomi 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  73 

is  not  alone.  He  who  had  promised  to  be  the 
husband  of  the  widow  is  with  her.  He  sus- 
tained her,  and  opened  new  sources  of  support 
and  happiness. 

Time  passes  on,  and  her  children,  the  thought 
of  whose  helplessness  had,  perhaps,  deepened  her 
grief,  become  the  helpers  of  her  joy.  The  silence 
of  the  inspired  record,  makes  it  proper  to  infer 
that,  by  their  marriage  with  the  daughters  of  the 
land,  they  were  not  enticed  away  from  the  God  of 
their  fathers,  as  she  might  have  feared  would  be 
the  case.  The  touching  scene  of  her  departure 
from  the  land  of  Moab,  shows  that  a  strong 
attachment  existed  between  herself  and  her 
daughters-in-law.  Their  society  and  assistance 
contributed  to  her  happiness.  Thus  was  God 
fulfilling,  in  her  experience,  the  promises  he  has 
made  to  his  children. 

But  another  and  terrible  trial  awaits  her.  Her 
busband  is  no  more,  and  now  her  sons  follow 
him.  Three  widows  are  mourning  beneath  the 
same  roof.  Now  does  Naomi's  cup  of  bitterness 
oveiflow.  She  can  no  longer  stay  in  this  valley 
ofAchor;  and  though  in  going,  she  must  leave 
the  graves  of  her   husband  and  sons,  yet   every 


74  THE       EVENING       OF      LIFE. 

object  opens  her  wounds  afresh,  and  she  sighs  for 
her  native  land,  where  her  kindred  dwell,  and 
where  the  true  God  is  worshipped.  She  hears, 
too,  that  "  the  Lord  has  visited  his  people  in 
giving  them  bread."  Sad  indeed  is  her  condition, 
but  "  as  her  day  is,  such  is  her  strength."  She 
summons  up  courage  to  return. 

And  now  the  three  lonely  widows  are  on  their 
way  to  Bethlehem.  Perceiving  in  the  mind  of 
at  least  one  of  her  daughters-in-law,  sadness  at 
quitting  her  native  land,  Naomi,  with  a  noble 
disinterestedness  united  with  a  degree  of  self- 
abandonment,  such  as  deep  affliction  sometimes 
produces,  urges  their  return.  "It  grieveth  me 
much  for  your  sakes,"  is  her  language,  "  that  the 
hand  of  the  Lord  is  gone  out  against  me."  In 
this  she  manifests  a  pious  recognition  of  God's 
hand  in  her  afflictions,  attended  with  a  sad 
fcehng  of  desolation,  which  makes  her  almost 
careless  of  her  own  future  lot.  She  would  be 
willing  to  pursue  her  journey  alone.  The  future 
is  dark,  and  how  can  she  be  so  selfish  as  to  wdsh 
to  sadden  their  younger  hearts  by  uniting  their 
fortunes  with  hers?  "  Affliction  follows  me  like 
a   shadow,"   she  seems  to  say,—"  then   go,   my 


iHE       EVENING       OF       LIFE.  75 

daughters,  where  the  sun  may  shine  bright  upon 
your  path." 

And  yet  she  can  but  have  trembled  for  the 
decision.  Will  they  abandon  me,  a  helpless 
stranger,  to  pursue  my  solitary  way  1  This  was 
a  dark  hour  for  Naomi.  The  clouds  had  been 
gathering  around  her,  one  by  one,  till  she  was 
enwrapped  in  the  deepest  gloom. 

But  the  widow's  God  was  with  her,  and  he 
moved  the  heart  of  the  gentle,  affectionate,  pious 
Ruth,  to  cleave  to  her  mother-in-law.  How 
beautiful  then  shone  forth  from  out  the  gloom  of 
those  doubtful  moments,  the  deep,  pure,  holy 
love,  which  made  that  daughter  so  ready  to  for- 
sake sister,  and  people,  and  country,  for  the  sake 
of  Naomi  and  Naomi's  God.  And  what  a 
touching  proof  was  this  of  the  Almighty's  gra- 
cious remembrance  of  the  widow  in  her  affliction. 
1'he  hght  of  love  that  here  beamed  forth  so 
brightly  upon  poor  Naomi's  darkness,  illumined 
all  the  rest  of  her  pilgrimage.  Then  were  these 
two  hearts  knit  together  by  the  strongest  and 
holiest  ties. 

The  two  travellers  have  reached  Bethlehem, 
and  here    Naomi's   grief  opens    afresh.      Wh'it 


76  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

thoughts  rushed  into  her  mind  1  Through  these 
gates,  and  along  these  streets,  and  from  out  that 
house,  had  gone  forth  a  whole  family — com- 
panions in  exile, — but  she  alone  returns,  a  widow 
and  childless  !  And  when  the  citizens  of  the 
place,  deeply  moved  at  her  coming,  said,  "  is  this 
Naomi !"  she  said  to  them,  "  Call  me  not  Naomi, 
pleasant, — call  me  Mara,  hitter,- — for  the  Almighty 
hath  dealt  very  bitterly  with  me.  I  w^ent  out 
full,  and  the  Lord  hath  brought  me  home  again 
emnty ;  why,  then,  call  ye  me  Naomi,  seeing  the 
Lord  hath  testified  against  me,  and  the  Almighty 
hath  afflicted  me  f 

Does  the  Lord  leave  her  to  these  melancholy 
thoughts  \  No.  Brighter  days  are  before  her. 
The  two  widows  dwell  in  the  city  of  Naomi's 
youth,  and  gather  their  humble  hving  in  accord- 
ance with  the  simple  customs  of  the  land,  and 
the  merciful  provisions  of  Israel's  God.  Here, 
among  friends,  the  sadness  that  had  so  long  rested 
UDon  her  spirit  was  in  a  measure  removed,  and 
when  Ruth  returned  one  evening  laden  with  the 
fruits  of  a  very  successful  gleaning  in  the  field  of 
Boaz,  and  told  her  mother-in-law  the  name  and 
kindness  of  their  benefactor,  Naomi's  heart  broke 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  77 

forth  ill  gratitude  and  praise  ; — "  Blessed  be  he  of 
the  Lord,  who  has  not  left  off  his  kmdness  to 
the  hvHig  and  the  dead." 

And  now  the  day  of  joy  begins  to  break,  and 
the  shadows  to  flee  away.  From  this  hour  may 
she,  the  long  sorrow-stricken  widow,  date  some 
of  her  happiest  days.  That  benefactor  in  the 
harvest- field  was  a  near  kinsman,  a  man  of 
wealth,  and  influence,  and  generous  disposition, 
and  God  inclined  his  heart  tenderly  and  warmly 
towards  Ihith.  There  was,  doubtless,  a  fascina- 
tion, for  such  a  man,  in  her  simple,  gentle,  modest 
demeanor,  and  in  her  self-sacrificing  affection  for 
Naomi,  which,  with  the  sympathy  he  felt  in  the 
sorrows  of  both,  made  him  her  willing  captive. 

Soon,  the  humble  gleaner  in  the  harvest-field 
— the  poor  Moabitish  stranger — becomes  the 
honored  and  beloved  wife  of  the  rich,  the  noble 
Boaz  ;  and  beneath  his  roof,  Naomi,  who  had 
wished  to  be  called  Mara  for  the  bitterness  of 
her  grief  finds  her  heart  singing  for  joy.  And 
when  at  length  a  son  was  born  of  Ruth,  and  "  she 
took  it,  and  laid  it  in  her  own  bosom,  and  became 
its  nurse,"  she  must  have  responded  with  all  her 
heart  to  the  kind  and  devout  expressions  of  the 


78  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

women, — "  Blessed  be  the  Lord,  who  hath  not 
left  thee  this  day  without  a  kinsmaD,  that  his 
name  may  be  famous  in  Israel.  And  he  shall 
be  unto  thee  a  restorer  of  thy  life,  and  a  nourisher 
of  thine  old  age ;  for  thy  daughter-in-law,  which 
loveth  thee,  who  is  better  to  thee  than  seven 
sons,  hath  borne  him." 

Here  at  last,  after  so  many  wanderings  and 
trials,  the  good  Naomi  finds  a  peaceful  home  for 
the  evening  of  her  days.  Now  she  can  see. that 
God  had  always  been  mindful  of  her,  even  when 
her  course  was  the  most  dark  and  crooked. 
Having  sufficiently  tried  her  in  the  furnace,  he 
has  brought  her  forth  into  a  "wealthy  place" — 
yea,  her  last  days,  wdiich  she  had  feared  would 
be  her  saddest,  are  the  most  richly  fraught  with 
blessing. 

And  there  was  mercy  towards  her  which  she 
never  knew  on  earth.  Could  she  have  looked 
through  her  tears  forward  to  coming  ages,  and 
have  seen  that  from  the  son  fondled  in  her  arms, 
and  born  of  that  daughter  brought  from  Gentile 
Moab,  was  to  spring  the  mighty  David,  and  his 
greater  son,  the  Messiah,  she  would  have  blessed 
God  for  all  the  windings  of  her  pilgrimage,  and 


THE      EVENING       OF      LIFE.  79 

have  ever  felt  that  m  her  afflictions  even,    not 
Mara,  but  Naomi,  was  her  most  fitting  naaio. 

Let  the  widow — sohtary  and  aged — her  hus- 
band gone — her  children,  it  may  be,  resting  by 
his  side,  confirm  her  faith  and  hope  by  Naomi's 
history.  Let  her  catch  in  this  an  insight  into  the 
mysteries  of  providence.  Let  her  learn  to  "trust 
where  she  cannot  trace,"  and  remember  that 
what  she  knows  not  now  of  God's  desig^ns  in 
her  afflictions,  she  shall  know  hereafter  if  she  be 
his  child,  and  that  what  to  her  short,  dim  vision 
may  seem  cause  only  for  sorrow  and  distrust, 
may  be  intimately  connected,  in  the  plan  of  infi- 
nite wisdom,  with  purposes  of  mercy  to  herself 
and  others.  God's  purposes  ripen  every  hour, 
not  only  when  the  sun  of  prosperity  is  shining, 
but  when  the  rains  descend,  and  the  winds  blow, 
and  the  heart  fails  through  fear.  Paradise  shall 
unfold  them  in  glorious  perfection. 

LIVE    BY   THE    DAY. 

I  AM    at   present,  through    mercy,  in    perfect 

health,  but  it  becomes  me  to  Hve  with  the  Lord 

hy  the  day,  and    to   carry  my  life   in    my  hand, 

leaving  to-morrow  with  the  Lord.     A.t  all  times 


80  THE       EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

we  are  little  aware  what  the  next  day  may  bring 
torth,  but  at  my  advanced  age  everything  is  more 
and  more  precarious  from  day  to  day.  I  am  in 
continual  expectation  of  being  either  called  away 
or  laid  aside.  I  may  perhaps  still  live  some 
years,  and  the  Lord  is  so  gracious  to  me  in  all 
my  concerns,  that  none  can  have  less  reason  to 
be  weary  of  living,  excepting  for  the  body  of  in- 
dwelling sin.  My  part  is  only  to  wait,  and  to 
pray  that  I  may  at  last  be  found  ready.  The 
how,  ivhen,  and  laliere  belong  to  him.  Yes,  the 
Lord  pours  contempt  upon  our  proud  boastings. 
— John  Newton,  (Aged  Pilgrims  Triumph.) 


CHRIST   AN   ALMIGHTY    SAVIOUR. 

I  HAVE  been  enabled  to  commit  my  soul  to 
him  who  says,  '•  him  that  cometli  I  will  in  no  tvisp 
cast  out,"  and  "  who  is  able  to  save  to  the  utter- 
most!' These  two  texts  have  been  as  two  sheet- 
anchors,  by  which  my  soul  has  rode  out  many  a 
storm,  when  otherwise  hope  would  have  failed. 
"  In  no  wise  "  takes  in  all  characters,  and  "  to  the 
uttermost"  goes  many  a  league  beyond  all  diffi- 
culties.     I  recommend  these  anchors ;  they  are 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  8l 

sure  and  steadfast. — John  Newton,  in  his  seven 
tieth  year.     (Aged  Pilgrim! s  Triumph.) 

DEPEND ANCE  ON  CHRIST. 
New  washing,  renewed  application  of  pur- 
chased redemption,  by  that  sacred  blood  that 
sealeth  the  free  covenant,  is  a  thing  of  daily  and 
hourly  use  to  a  poor  sinner.  Jesus  who  cleanseth 
and  cureth  the  soul  must  be  our  song  on  this  side 
of  heaven's  gates;  and  even  when  we  have  won 
the  castle,  then  must  we  eternally  sing,  "  Worthy 
is  the  Lamb  who  hath  saved  us  and  washed  us 
in  his  own  blood." — Rutherford, 

/  SKETCH  OF  MRS.  B.  OF  B. 
A  POET  has  beautifully  asked,  "  Hath  not  life 
an  Indian  summer  1"  and  well  may  we  answer  in 
the  affirmative,  when  we  see  an  aged  disciple  of 
Christ,  who,  having  patiently  suffered  with  him, 
is  now  waiting  in  cheerful  trust  to  be  glorified 
with  him.  As  the  rays  of  the  morning  sun 
illuminate  our  earth  before  his  rising,  so  the  bliss 
which  awaits  such  a  Christian  in  his  Fathers 
house  on  high,  casts  forward  its  rays  to  allure 
him  upwards,  and  to  show  w^hat  that  glory 
must    be,    whose     faintest     ghmmerings     amid 

5 


82  THE       EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

pain    and    sorrow,   shed    such    a   halo    around 
him. 

Mrs.  B.  was  a  beautiful  example  of  that  class 
of  Christians  who  enjoy  in  their  last  days  a  fore- 
taste of  eternal  gloiy.  Her  lot  in  life  had  ever 
been  a  humble  one.  Peace  and  plenty  had 
crowned  her  youth  and  middle  hfe ;  and  even 
down  to  grey  hairs,  when  friend  and  acquaint- 
ance, husband  and  many  children,  had  been 
taken  from  her,  there  still  were  left  an  affectionate 
son  and  daughter  to  comfort  her  and  to  provide 
for  her  wants.  But  when  past  fourscore  years, 
it  pleased  God  in  a  sudden  and  painful  manner 
to  remove  both  from  her  sight.  She  was  left 
alone — childless  and  a  widow,  with  scanty  means 
of  support.  The  faithful,  pious  daughter,  upon 
whose  arm  she  had  leaned,  was  hrst  taken 
Aside  from  the  loss  itself,  the  circumstances  of 
the  bereavement  were  peculiarly  trying,  For 
months  had  the  mother  been  deprived  of  her 
society  and  aid,  while  she,  the  tempted  and 
suffering  one,  was  confined  in  a  lunatic  asylum. 
And  there  did  she  die,  away  from  her  home. 
Then  that  aged  mother  turned  to  her  son,  her 
only  surviving  child.     He  was  poor  and  burdened 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  83 

With  a  large  family,  but  he  was  her  son,  and  if  he 
could  not  supply  all  her  wants,  he  could  sympa 
thize  with  her.  But  in  a  few  days,  while  he  was 
absent  from  home,  slie  received  word  that  he  had 
suddenly  sickened  and  died  among  strangers,  and 
that  she  was  left  with  his  widow  and  six  help  ess 
little  ones  to  look  to  God  for  bread. 

It  was  under  these  circumstances  that  I 
accompanied  her  pastor  to  her  dweUing.  We 
ascended  softly  the  narrow  winding  stah's,  and 
knocked  at  the  unpainted  door.  Tears  were  in 
my  eyes :  1  had  no  word  to  say  to  one  passing 
through  such  deep  waters,  and  had  only  come  to 
'-  weep  with  her."  A  cheerful  voice  answered 
our  knocking,  and  we  entered,  but  not  to  witness 
a  picture  of  sorrow.  The  aged  pilgrim  rose,  and 
with  the  aid  of  her  staff  came  forward  to  meet 
us.  Looking  over  her  spectacles  to  recognise 
me,  she  soon  saw  that  I  was  a  stranger.  On 
being  told  the  name  of  her  new  visitor,  she  gave 
a  cordial  greeting,  then  looking  out  anxiously  on 
the  deep  snow,  she  said,  "  You  surely  did  not 
ivalkV  When  told  that  we  did,  she  seemed 
overcome  with  gratitude,  and  thanked  us  again 
and  again  for  thinking  of  her. 


84  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

The  faded  gown,  which  doubtless  her  owd 
hands  had  woven  m  the  days  of  her  strength,  the 
broad  frilled  cap  of  the  coarsest  cloth,  the  bowed 
form  and  the  deeply  furrowed  face,  the  pleasant 
smile  which  seemed  to  have  no  right  there 
(because  I,  in  my  ignorance,  imagined  that  where 
there  was  affliction  there  must  be  deep  gloom), 
all  these  made  upon  my  mind  an  impression 
which  can  never  be  effaced. 

She  conversed  freely  and  cheerfully  with  her 
pastor;  she  spoke  of  Christ;  how  merciful  he 
was,  and  how  increasingly  precious  to  her  soul. 
She  mentioned  the  children  of  God,  spoke  of 
their  love  to  one  another,  and  particularly  of  their 
tenderness  to  herself,  a  poor  unworthy  one  among 
them.  She  repeated  the  names  of  all  who  had 
called  upon  her  in  her  affliction,  and  said  that 
her  stock  of  food  was  replenished  before  the  last 
was  gone,  and  that  her  fire  had  never  been  suf- 
fered to  go  out  for  want  of  fuel.  "  And  now," 
she  said,  "  I  will  let  you  see  a  letter  I  have 
received,  which  will  show  that  the  tender  mer- 
cies of  God  are  still  around  me."  She  rose,  and 
leaning  with  one  hand  on  her  staff,  reached  a 
letter  from  a  shelf  above  her,  which  she  placed 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  85 

in  her  pastor's  hand,  with  a  request  that  he  would 
read  it  aloud.  Blessed  pilgrim  !  every  reading 
of  that  short  epistle  bj  friends  who  called  to  vish 
her,  was  to  her  a  fresh  confirmation  of  the  truth 
of  the  rich  promises  on  which  she  had  so  long 
rehed.  It  was  only  a  line  from  the  superinten- 
dent of  the  insane  hospital  w4iere  her  daughter 
had  died;  but  it  contained  what  to  her  pious 
heart  was  more  than  all  the  riches  of  earth,  a 
statement  that  the  afflicted  one  had  become  fully 
rational  before  her  death,  and  had  left  earth  with 
most  triumphant  joy. 

The  aged  saint  listened  with  a  smile  till  the 
reading  was  finished,  and  then  said,  "  When 
I  first  heard  of  my  daughter's  death,  it  was  late  in 
the  afternoon.  I  had  been  eagerly  waiting  to 
hear  that  she  was  restored  to  her  reason,  and 
could  again  take  care  of  her  poor  feeble  mother. 
I  had  no  word  to  say  ;  I  knew  it  was  all  right ; 
and,  although  I  did  not  then  know  any  of  the 
circumstances  which  now  afford  me  so  much 
comfort,  I  did  leave  her  in  His  hands  who  does 
all  things  well.  Still,  it  was  a  great  stroke,  and  I 
thought  T  should  not  be  able  to  sleep  all  night  for 
thoughts  of  her.     But  I  was  mistaken :  I  went  to 


86  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

bed  early,  as  is  my  custom,  and  soon  fell  into  a 
quiet  sleep,  which  was  not  broken  till  the  sun 
awoke  me,  shining  in  my  face.  This  had  not 
happened  before  for  years,  as  my  infirmities  often 
keep  me  awake  for  hours.  "  It  is  so,"  she  said, 
smiling;  '"he  giveth  his  beloved  sleep.'  When 
T  did  awake,  my  heart  was  full  of  praise  to  God 
for  all  his  mercies  to  me.  Since  this  letter  came, 
and  I  find  that  my  prayers  have  been  answered  for 
my  child,  my  heart  is  full,  and  when  I  cannot  sleep, 
he  giveth  me  '  songs  in  the  night'  Sometimes  I 
get  impatient  to  be  gone,  and,  as  I  can  do  nothing 
for  God,  and  am  only  a  trouble  to  others,  I  won- 
der why  I  am  kept  here."  Her  pastor  reminded 
her  that  our  Heavenly  Father,  after  having 
accomplished  the  great  work  of  conforming  the 
will  of  a  Christian  to  his  own  will,  may  keep 
him  still  on  earth  for  an  example  to  others,  that 
weaker  Christians,  as  well  as  those  who  know 
not  God,  may  see  the  power  of  his  grace.  He 
said  he  believed  that  she  was  still  among  the 
living,  in  order  that  her  placid  and  even  cheerful 
temper  amid  severe  and  repeated  afflictions,  might 
glorify  God.  "  I  never  thought  of  that  before," 
she   said,   while   a  smile   which    cannot  be  de- 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  «*/ 

scribed,  lighted  up  her  face.  "  I  will  trj  to  be 
patient  till  his  time  comes."  Thns  she  talked  of 
heaven  and  of  going  home,  as  we  do  upon  every- 
day topics.  And  she  did  not  wait,  as  some  do,  to 
change  the  countenance  and  tone  of  voice.  Hers 
was  the  religion  of  love  and  cheerful  submission, 
and  prayer  and  praise  were  the  natural  breathings 
of  her  heart.  When  asked  what  was  the  prin- 
cipal evidence  of  her  adoption,  she  reflected  a  mo- 
ment, and  tben  said  with  animation,  "  Oh,  Jesus  is 
so  precious!"  "But  were  you  always  as  free 
from  doubts  and  desponding  fears  as  you  now 
are  f '  "  Oh  !  no,  no,  "  she  quickly  replied  ;  "  in 
the  earlier  part  of  my  Christian  life,  whenever  I 
sinned,  I  went  a.  long  time  mourning  and  doubt- 
ing, before  I  could  feel  an  evidence  of  forgive- 
ness ;  but  now,  when  T  have  sinned,  and  I  lose  my 
joy,  I  look  right  to  Christ.  '1  hen  my  peace  is 
restored.  I  know  more  of  Christ  now^  than  I  did 
in  those  days." 

There  was  in  her  room  a  want  of  many  things 
necessary  for  the  comfort  of  one  so  feeble,  and 
feeling  that  it  would  be  an  honor  to  perform  the 
humblest  service  for  one  so  like  my  blessed  Mas- 
ter, I   invited   her  to  spend   a  few   days  at  my 


88  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

house.  I  thought  I  might,  by  proper  care,  lessen 
her  sufferings,  and  in  the  meantime  cleanse  the 
dingy  walls  of  her  chamber,  and  add  some 
articles  of  comfort  to  her  little  home.  She  grate- 
fully but  modestly  declined  my  invitation,  aud 
when  I  pressed  her  still  further,  promising  her  a 
fire  in  het  sleeping  room,  and  many  other  atten- 
tions, she  seemed  pained  at  my  earnestness,  and 
saw  that  she  must  assign  a  reason  for  not  grant- 
ing my  request.  Putting  on  an  expression  pecu- 
liarly her  own,  she  said,  "  When  you  expect 
company  whom  you  have  long  been  urging  ^o 
come  to  your  house,  you  never  go  out,  do  you  1 
Well,  I  am  looking  anxiously  every  night  for  my 
Master,  and  when  he  comes,  I  wish  him  to  find 
me  at  home  watching!"  Her  reason  was  satis- 
factory, and  I  ceased  striving  to  allure  her  from 
the  humble  abode  made  sacred  by  tlie  frequent 
visits  of  Him  whom  her  soul  loved. 

Blessed  woman  !  She  watched  for  his  com- 
ing, as  those  who  watch  for  the  morning ;  nor 
were  her  vigils  long  kept  in  vain.  Those  faded 
eyes  shall  watch  no  more,  having  long  ago  seen 
the  King  in  his  beauty.  That  longing  heart 
shall  pant  no  more  for  holiness,  for  she  is  now 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  89 

satisfied,  having  awaked  in  His  likeness.     How 
glorious  for  her  the  change  !     The  hoary  head, 
which   here  pressed    the  humble  pillow  through 
long  nights  of  weariness  and  pain,  wears  now  the 
starry  crown  of  the  redeemed  in  the  land  where 
there  is  no  more  night ;  the  faltering  limbs,  which 
here   almost  refused  to  bear  their  burden,  now 
stand  in    new   strength  upon   Mount  Zion,  and 
walk  the  golden  streets  of  the  new  Jerusalem  ;  the 
palsied  hand,  which  strove  in  vain  to  supply  her 
few  wants  below,  now  strikes  the  chords  of  her 
golden  harp  to  the  praise  of  the  Lamb.     She  is 
gone  from  among  those  who  felt  it  a  high  privi- 
lege to  give  her  even  a  cup  of  water  in  the  name 
of  Christ,  but  her  memory  is  still  fragrant  among 
them,  and  it  is  hoped  that  this  imperfect  sketch 
of  one  who  was  honored  with  special  grace,  may 
invite  others  to  strive  after  that  close  communion 
with  heaven,  which  rendered  a  humble  child  of 
Glod  so  conspicuous  for  piety,  and  which  enabled 
ler  to  "  bear  fruit  in  old  age." — J.  D.  C. 

ElVIBLEM  OF  A  DEPARTING  SAINT. 
A  CLOUD  lay  cradled  near  the  setting  sun, 
A  gleam  of  crim?c»n  tinged  its  braided  snow  ; 

5* 


90  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

Long  had  I  watched  the  glory  moving  on 

O'er  the  still  radiance  of  tlie  lake  below  : 
Tranquil  its  spirit  seemed,  and  floated  slow, 

E'en  in  its  very  motion  there  was  rest. 
While  every  breath  of  eve  that  chanced  to  blow 

Wafted  the  traveller  to  the  beauteous  west. 
Emblem, "methought,  of  the  departed  soul, 

To  whose  white  robe  the  gleam  of  bliss  is  given, 
And  by  the  breath  of  mercy  made  to  roll 

Right  onward  to  the  golden  gates  of  heaven ; 
Where  to  the  eye  of  faith  it  peaceful  lies, 

And  tells  to  man  his  glorious  destinies. 

Songs  for  the  Sabbath. 

THE  DEATH  OF  BELIEVERS. 
Christian  believers  die  "  in  the  Lord."  They 
are  now  in  him  as  the  branch  is  in  the  vine ; 
and  he  is  now  in  them  by  his  Holy  Spirit.  To 
this  he  alludes  in  the  following  passage :  "  He  that 
abideth  in  me,  and  J  in  him,  the  same  bringeth 
forth  much  fruit."  The  union  of  the  soul  and 
body  is  dissolved  by  death  ;  but  the  union  of  the 
soul  to  Christ  remains  unbroken  in  that  solemn 
hour.  Then  the  believer  cleaves  to  him  with 
purpose  of  heart ;  and  he  cleaves  to  the  believer  in 
mercy  and  love.  This  sacred  union  with  Jesus, 
when  the  soul  is  departing  hence,  is  the  greatest 


THE      EVENING      OF     LIFE.  91 

blessing  that  can  be  enjoyed  in  that  awful  hour. 
It  secures  to  the  behever  the  support  of  the 
almighty  Saviour  ;  it  fills  his  soul  with  holy  joy ; 
it  strengthens  his  hope  ;  it  brightens  nis  prospects ; 
it  gives  him  the  victory.  Such  a  death  is  truly 
happy  ;  and  is  more  to  be  desired  than  all  the 
wealth  and  power  of  this  world  of  shadows. — 
Edmondson. 

Dr.  Payson,  when  racked  with  pain  and  near 
to  death,  exclaimed,  "  Oh,  what  a  blessed  thing 
it  is  to  lose  one's  will!  Since  I  have  lost  my 
will,  I  have  found  happiness.  There  can  be  no 
such  thing  as  disappointment  to  me,  for  I  have 
no  desire,  but  that  God's  will  may  be  ac- 
complished." 

"LET  ME   GO,   FOR  THE  DAY  BREAKETH." 

Let  me  go,  the  uay  is  breaking. 

Earthly  scenes  are  fading  fast ; 
Joys  that  were  my  heart  awaking, 

Hopes  and  fears  are  with  tlie  past. 
Earthly  visions  now  are  darkling, 

And  the  city's  golden  glow 
Gleams  before  me,  pure  and  sparkling. 

In  the  distance — let  me  go ! 


92  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE 

Angel  hosts,  resplendent  shining, 

Wait  me  at  the  river's  side, 
And  my  eager  heart  is  pining 

But  to  meet  them  on  the  tide. 
I  can  see  the  life-founts  gushing, 

I  can  hear  their  silvery  flow  ; 
Joys,  a  countless  throng,  are  rushing 

On  my  spirit — let  me  go  ! 

He,  the  wounded,  the  forsaken. 

In  the  death-hour  sore  dismayed. 
All  my  grief  and  fear  has  taken, 

All  my  debt  of  sin  has  paid. 
I  can  see  his  God-like  brightness, 

Through  the  form  he  wore  below, 
On  a  throne  of  dazzling  whiteness. 

And  he  calls  me — let  me  go. 

Friends,  the  early  loved,  the  cherished, 
Parted  from  our  paths  like  dew. 

With  the  mortal  have  not  perished — 
f,.;  I  behold  them  pure  and  true  : 

Lovelier  in  that  far  dominion, 

E'en  than  when  we  loved  them  so : 

And  they  stand  with  drooping  pinion 
To  enfold  me — let  me  go  ! 

Lay  me  gently  on  my  pillow, 

Weary  are  my  thorn-pierced  feet ; 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  93 

Christ  has  calmed  that  boisterous  oillow, 

And  the  rest  beyond  is  sweet. 
Could  ye  share  the  glorious  vision, 

Ye  would  not  detain  me  so  ; 
Now  the  homeward  gales  Elysian 

Woo  my  spirit — let  me  go  ! 

Central  Christian  Herald. 

The  Bible. — The  new  convert,  dazzled  over 
its  pages  with  the  ecstasy  of  his  new-found  hope, 
yet  cannot  as  deeply  and  ardently  love  it,  as  he 
will  do  when  a  grey-headed  patriarch,  years 
after,  he  turns  afresh  its  wondrous  leaves,  to  adore 
the  ever-full  freshness  of  its  lessons,  and  to  re- 
member all  the  hghts  it  has  cast  upon  his  weary 
pathway. —  W.  R.  Wiilia?ns. 

There  are  silver  books,  and  a  very  few  golden 
books :  but  I  have  one  worth  more  than  all, 
called  the  Bible;  and  that  is  a  book  oi  bank- 
notes.— Newton.  ^  fl| 

TRUST  IN  GOD. 

With  the  Patriarch's  joy 
Thy  call  I  follow  to  the  land  unknown ; 
I  trust  in  thee,  and  know  in  whom  I  trust : 
Or  life  or  death,  is  equal  :  neither  weighs ; 
All  weight  in  this — oh,  let  me  live  to  thee  ! — Young. 


94  THE       EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

THE  CHRISTIAN'S  PROSPECT. 
The  best  prospect,  when  faith  is  in  exercise, 
is  before  us,  especially  to  those  who  are  far 
advanced  in  years.  I  am  now  old,  and  I  know 
not  the  day  of  my  death  ;  and  can  it  be  that  I  am 
within  a  few  years,  perhaps  months,  or  weeks,  of 
joining  in  the  songs  and  sharing  in  the  joys  of 
those  who  are  now  before  the  throne  1  that  I 
may  expect  soon  to  see  my  Saviour  without  a 
veil,  face  to  face,  in  all  his  glory,  and  in  all  his 
love  ?  If  so,  why  am  I  thus  1  Why  am  i  no 
more  affected  and  enlivened  by  this  blessed  hope, 
which,  finally,  as  it  impresses  me,  I  would  not 
part  with  for  a  thousand  worlds  I  Alas  !  a  body 
of  sin  and  unbelief  weighs  me  down.  So,  when 
a  bird  with  a  stone  tied  to  its  foot  attempts  to  fly, 
the  weight  pulls  it  back,  and  it  flutters  its  wings 
in,yain.  Our  life  is  safely  hid  with  Christ  in 
God,  but  it  will  be  a  life  of  warfare  while  we 
continue  here  ;  let  us  fight  on  :  the  Captain  of 
our  salvation  is  near.  See  !  he  holds  the  prize 
in  view  !  Hark !  he  speaks,  and  says,  •'  Be  thou 
faithful  unto  death,  and  I  will  give  thee  a  crown 
of  life  ! " — Joh7i  Newton.     (Aged  PilgrijrCs  Tri- 


the    evening    of    life.  95 

The  Believer  awaiting  the  Coming  of 
Christ. — Persuade  yourself  the  King  is  coming. 
Read  his  letter  sent  before  him,  ''  Behold,  I  come 
quickly  :"  Wait  w^ith  the  wearied  night-watch, 
for  the  breaking  of  the  eastern  sky,  and  think 
that  ye  have  not  a  morrow ;  as  the  wise  father 
said,  who  being  invited  against  to-morrow  to  dine 
with  his  friends,  answered,  "  Those  many  days  T 
had  no  morrow  at  all." — Rutherford. 

THE    LOVE  OF   CHRIST    IN   THE   SUFFERINGS    OF 
HIS    DISCIPLES. 

In  whatever  aspect  we  view  it,  the  love  of 
Christ  is  marvellous.  The  word  of  God  affirms 
that  it  passeth  knowledge,  and  no  Christian  has 
ever  fathomed  it.  When  we  contemplate  it  as 
moving  the  Saviour  to  visit  the*,earth,  and  die 
upon  the  cross  for  his  enemies,  we  are  led  tii 
exclaim,  Was  there  ever  love  hke  this  ?  -^'^ 

But,  perhaps,  the  course  of  discipline  to  which 
the  Redeemer  subjects  his  disciples,  in  maturing 
them  for  heaven,  affords,  in  some  respects,  the 
most  touching  proof  of  his  love.  In  order  to 
effect  their  complete  purification,  they  need  to  be 
rast  into  the  furnace,  to  feel  the  flames  of  afflic- 


96  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

tion  kindling  about  them.  This  is  a  painful, 
often  an  excruciating  process,  especially  as  it 
tends  to  awaken  the  latent  iniquity  of  the  heart, 
and  occasions  inward  conflicts  between  nature 
and  grace,  the  most  violent  and  distressing  In 
the  midst  of  the  fires  the  disciple  cries  out,  "  My 
sufferings  are  greater  than  I  can  bear !"  or,  per- 
haps, "  My  hope  is  gone  ! " 

Where,  now,  is  the  Saviour  during  these  pain- 
ful experiences,  extended,  it  may  be,  through  long 
years  1  Is  it  thus  he  manifests  Iiis  love  to  his 
chosen  ones,  or  has  he  forgotten  to  be  gracious  ? 
Why  does  he  not  quench  these  flames  1  Why 
not  heed  these  mournful  cries  1  Love  is  the  an- 
swer ;  yes,  love  more  than  human ;  love  so  pure 
and  strong,  as  to  silence  for  the  time  the  sugges- 
tions of  mere  sympathy  ;  love  that  longs  to  behold 
its  own  bright  and  beauteous  image  in  the  person 
of  a  disciple,  and  that  can  stand  by  and  bear  to 
see  that  beloved,  ransomed  one  enduring  more 
than  tongue  can  express,  while  the  dross  is 
vanishing  in  the  furnace.  Yes,  tried  and  fearful 
soul,  your  Saviour  is  ever  near  you,  he  looks  upon 
you,  he  loves  you,  he  is  touched  with  the  feeling 
of  your    infirmity,    he    sympathizes  with    every 


THE      EVENING      OF       LIFE.  97 

groan  you  utter,  for  you  are  a  member  of  his  own 
body,  and  he  well  remembers  the  anguish  of  his 
own  heart  when   on   earth;  but  his  love  looks 
beyond  the   present  moment  to  future  years,  to 
the  hour  of  death,  to  heaven,  and  resolves  to  do 
for  you  what  shall  inconceivably  augment  your 
holiness  and  your  bliss  eternally.     His  love  kin- 
dles the  fire,  and  keeps  it  burning,  but  when  the 
dross  shall  be  consumed,  and  your  spirit  meek 
and  quiet  "  like  a  weaned  child,"  oh,  with  what 
double  rapture  will  he  draw  you  from  the   fur- 
nace, fold  you  in  his  arms,  and  smile  upon  you 
with    a    look    that    will    reveal    something   of 
heaven  !     And  as  you  review  all  the  trials  you 
have  endured,  you  will  say.  It  was  all  of  love. 
Yes,  the  time  will  come  when  you  will   regard 
every  stroke   as    given  in  mercy,  and  bless  God 
that  there  was  not  one  less.     Human  love  is  not 
equal  to  this.     It  is  blind  and  feeble.     It  is  some- 
times   untrue,    by    reason    of    its    frailty.       But 
Christ's  love  never  faileth.     It  infinitely   trans- 
cends  all  human  infirmity.     It  can  bear  to  be 
considered  for  a  time  coldness  and  desertion,  for 
it  looks  to  the  believer's  ultimate  and  exceeding 


98  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

greater  good,  and  well  knows  that  the  future  will 
reveal  its  true  intent  and  heavenly  purity. 

The  godly  sow  in  tears  and  reap  in  joy.  Tho 
seed-tune  is  commonly  waterish  and  lowering. 
I  will  be  content  with  a  w^et  spring,  so  I  may  be 
sure  of  a  clear  and  joyful  harvest. — Bishop  Hall. 

The  two  Wonders. — "  Two  things,"  says 
Pearce,  "  are  matter  of  daily  astonishment  to  me 
— the  readiness  of  Christ  to  come  from  heaven  to. 
earth  for  me ;  and  my  hackwardness  to  rise  from 
earth  to  heaven  for  him." 

TO  AN  AFFLICTED  LADY. 
When  ye  are  come  to  the  other  side  of  the 
water,  and  have  set  down  your  foot  on  the  shore 
of  glorious  eternity,  and  look  back  again  to  the 
waters,  and  to  your  wearisome  journey,  and  shall 
see  in  that  clear  glass  of  endless  glory,  nearer  to 
the  bottom  of  God's  wisdom,  you  shall  then  be 
forced  to  say  :  If  God  had  done  otherwise  with 
me  than  he  hath  done,  I  had  never  come  to  the 
enjoying  of  this  crown  of  glory.  It  is  your  part 
now  to  believe,  and  suffer,  and  hope,  and  wait 


THE       EVENING       OF      LIFE.  99 

on ;  for  I  protest  in  the  presence  of  that  all-dis- 
cerning eye,  who  knoweth  what  I  write,  and 
what  I  think  that  I  would  not  want  the  sweet 
experience  of  the  consolations  of  God,  for  all  the 
bitterness  of  affliction ;  nay,  whether  God  come 
to  his  children  with  a  rod  or  a  crown,  if  he  come 
himself  with  it,  it  is  well ;  welcome,  welcome, 
Jesus,  what  may  soever  then  come,  if  w^e  can  get 
a  sight  of  thee.  And  sure  I  am,  it  is  better  to  be 
sick,  providing  Christ  come  to  the  bed-side  and 
draw  the  ciutains,  and  say,  "  Courage,  I  am  thy 
salvation,"  than  to  enjoy  health,  and  never  to  be 
visited  of  God. — Rutherford. 

It  is  enough  that  the  Lord  hath  promised  you 
great  things  ;  only  let  the  time  of  bestowing  them 
be  in  his  own  carving.  It  is  not  for  us  to  set  an 
hour-glass  to  the  Creator  of  time. — Rutherford, 

THOUGHTS   OF   HEAVEN. 
I  AM  a  stranger  here  below,  my  home  is  above 
Yet  I  can  think  too  well  of  these  foreign  vanities 
and  cannot  think  enough  of  my  home.     Surely 
that  is  not  so  far  above  my  head  as  my  thoughts 
neither  doth   so  far  pass  me   in  distance  as  in 


100  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

comprehension  ;  and  yet  I  would  not  stana  so 
much    upon    conceiving,    if   I    could    admire    il 
enough :  but  my  strait  heart  is  filled  with  a  httle 
wonder,  and  hath  no  room  for  the  greatest  part  of 
glory  that  remaineth.      O  God,  what  happiness 
hast  thou    prepared  for  thy  chosen  !     What    a 
purchase  was  this,  worthy  of  the  blood  of  such  a 
Saviour !     As  yet  I  do  but  look  towards  it  afar 
off,   but  it  is  easy  to  see    by  the   outside  how 
goodly  it   is  within ;  although,  as  thine  house  on 
earth,  so  that  above,  hath  more  glory  within  than 
can  be  bewrayed  by  the  outer  appearance.      The 
outer  part  of  thy  tabernacle  here  below  is  but  an 
earthly    and    base    substance,    but   within   it    is 
furnished  with  a   living,  spiritual,  and    heavenly 
guest ;  so  the  outer  heavens,  though  they  be  as 
gold  to  all  other  material  creatures,  yet  they  are 
but  dross  to  thee  !     Yet  how  are  even  the  out- 
most walls  of  that  house  of  thine  beautified  with 
glorious  lights,  whereof  every  one  is  a  world  for 
bigness  and  as  a  heaven  for  goodhness  !     O  teach 
me  by  this  to  long  after  and  wonder  at  the  inner 
part,  before  thou  lettest  me  come  in  to  behold  it ! 
"—Bishop  HalL 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  lOl 

LOOKING  HEAVENWARD. 

The  s:oldeD  palace  of  my  God 

Towering  above  the  clouds  I  see : 
Beyond  the  cherubs'  bright  abode, 
•   Higher  than  angels'  thoughts  can  be. 
How  can  I  in  these  courts  appear 

Without  a  wedding-garment  on  ? 
Conduct  me,  thou  Life-giver,  there, 

Conduct  me  to  thy  glorious  throne ! 
And  clothe  me  with  thy  robes  of  light, 
»  And  lead  me  through  sin's  darksome  night, 

My  Saviour  and  my  God ! 

The  righteous  shall  flourish  Hke  the  palm- 
tree:  he  shall  grow  like  a  cedar  in  Lebanon. 
Those  that  be  planted  in  the  house  of  the  Lord 
shall  flourish  in  the  courts  of  our  God.  They 
shall  still  bring  forth  fruit  in  old  age ;  they  shall 
be  fat  and  flourishing,  to  show  that  the  Lord  is 
upright :  he  is  my  rock,  and  there  is  no  unright- 
eousness in  him. — Psalm  xcii.  12-15. 


Death  is  the  friend  of  grace  and  the  enera^ 
of  nature. — Dodd, 


102  THE      EVENING      OF     LIFE. 

INFANCY,  YOUTH,  AND  AGE. 

Our  infancy  is  full  of  folly  ;  youth,  of  disorder 
and  toil;  age,  of  infirmity.  Each  time  hath  his 
burden,  and  that  which  may  justly  work  our 
weariness.  Yet  infancy  longeth  after  youth,  and 
youth  after  more  age,  and  he  that  is  very  old,  as 
he  is  a  child  for  simplicity,  so  he  would  be  for 
years.  I  account  old  age  the  best  of  three ; 
partly,  for  that  it  hath  passed  through  the  folly 
and  disorder  of  the  others  •  partly,  for  that  the 
inconveniences  of  this  are  but  bodily,  with  a  bet- 
tered estate  of  the  mind  ;  and  partly,  for  that  it  is 
nearest  to  dissolution.  There  is  nothing  more 
miserable  than  an  old  man  that  would  be  young 
again.  It  was  an  answer  worthy  the  commenda- 
tions of  Petrarcli,  who,  wlien  his  friend  bemoaned 
his  age  appearing  in  his  white  temples,  telling 
him  he  was  sorry  to  see  him  look  so  old,  replied, 
"  Nay,  be  sorry  rather  that  I  was  ever  young,  vo 
be  a  fool." — Bishop  Hall. 

DAYS  GONE  BY. 

Though  we  charge  to-cky  with  fleetness, 

Though  we  dread  to-ir,orrow's  sky, 
There's  a  melancholy  sweetness 

In  the  name  of  days  gone  by. 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  103 

Yes,  though  Time  has  laid  his  finger 

On  thein,  still  with  streaming  eye 
There  are  spots  where  I  can  linger, 

Sacred  to  the  days  gone  by. 

Oft  as  memory's  glance  is  ranging 

Over  scenes  that  cannot  die,  • 

Then  I  feel  that  all  is  changing, 

Then  I  weep  the  days  gone  by» 

Sorrowful  should  I  be,  and  lonely, 

Were  not  all  the  same  as  I, 
'Tis  for  all,  not  my  lot  only, 

To  lament  the  days  gone  by. 

Gease,  fond  heart, — to  thee  are  given^' 

Hopes  of  better  things  on  high, 
There  is  still  a  coming  heaven,  ^ 

Brighter  than  the  days  gone  by.    / 

Faith  lifts  off  the  sable  curtain, 

Hiding  huge  eternity ; 
'Hope  accounts  her  prize  as  certain, 

And  forgets  the  days  gone  by. 

Love  in  grateful  adoration 

Bids  distrust  and  sorrow  fly, 
And  with  glad  anticipation — 

Calms  regret  for  days  gone  by. — Tupper, 


104  THE      EVEJNING      OF      LIFE. 

THE  HAPPINESS  OF  THE  CHRISTIAN. 

There  is  no  man  so  happy  as  the  Christian. 
When  he  looks  up  into  heaven,  he  thinks, 
"  That  is  my  home;  the  God  that  made  it  and 
owns  it  is  my  Father ;  the  angels,  more  glorious 
in  nature  than  myself,  are  my  attendants ;  mine 
enemies  are  my  vassals."  Yea,  those  things 
which  are  the  terriblest  of  all  to  the  wicked,  are 
most  pleasant  to  him.  When  he  hears  God 
thunder  above  his  head,  he  thinks,  "  This  is  the 
voice  of  my  Father."  When  he  remembereth 
the  tribunal  of  the  last  judgment,  he  thinks,  "  It 
is  my  Saviour  that  sits  in  it."  When  death 
comes,  he  esteems  it  but  as  the  angel  set  before 
paradise,  which  with  one  blow  admits  him  to 
eternal  joy.  And,  which  is  most  of  all,  nothing 
in  earth  or  hell  can  make  him  miserable.  There 
is  nothing  in  the  world  worth  envying  but  the 
Christian. — Bishop  Hall. 

LESSON   OF  CONTENTMENT. 
*  *  *    Look  in  on  Bunyan  in  the  dungeon. 
It  is,  perhaps,  an  hour  of  solitude   and  sadness. 
He  sees  through  the  grating  the   quivering  leaf 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  105 

and  the  green  hedge.  They  are  free  to  breathe 
the  unfettered  air,  and  to  bask  beneath  the  open 
sky.  He  is  shut  up.  He  sees  the  herds  roaming 
at  their  will  unconfined,  and  hears  the  call  of  the 
bird  as  it  soars  and  sings,  and  sees  perhaps  some 
godless  sportsman  whom  he  knows  amongst  his 
scorners  and  persecutors,  merry  and  unquestioned 
on  his  way  afield.  Equipages, roll  past.  Rank, 
and  beauty,  and  wealth,  and  learning,  adorn  their 
tenants.  Does  he  envy  the  quivering  leaf,  and 
the  air-swept  hedge,  and  the  uncaged  lark,  or 
begrudge  the  hunter  his  sports,  or  the  rich,  and 
gay,  and  wise,  their  enjoyment  of  life  1  They 
have  the  goods  of  earth.  Some  have  vegetable 
life,  and  the  others  animal  life,  and  the  others 
intellectual  life,  but  he  has  spiritual  life.  In  his 
dungeon  he  is  the  Lord's  freeman.  In  his 
oppression,  and  penury,  and  lowly  ignorance,  he 
is  visited,  and  taught,  and  comforted  of  God. 
And  in  that  lonely  prisoner,  tagging  his  laces,  or 
thumbing  the  martyr's  sad,  glad  story,  or  bowed 
over  his  Bible,  you  have  seen  the  happiest, 
greatest,  wisest,  and  safest  man  of  them  all.— PT 
R.  Willia7ns. 

6 


106  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE 

THE  DESERTED   HOMESTEAD. 

Gloom  is  upon  thy  lonely  hearth, 

0  silent  house  !  once  filled  with  mirth  ; 
Sorrow  is  in  the  breezy  sound 

Of  thy  tall  poplars  whispering,  round. 

The  shadow  of  departed  hours 
Hangs  dim  upon  thine  early  flowers ; 
E'en  in  thy  sunsliine  seems  to  brood 
Something  more  deep  than  solitude. 

Fair  art  thou,  fair  to  strangers*  gaze, 
Mine  own  sweet  home  of  other  days  ! 
My  children's  birth-place !  yet  for  me 
It  is  too  much  to  look  on  thee ! 

Too  much,  for  all  about  thee  spread, 

1  feel  the  memory  of  the  dead, 
And  almost  linger  for  the  feet  - 


:i 


That  never  more  my  step  shall  meet, 


The  lopks,  the  smiles,  all  vanished  now^ 
Follow  me  where  thy  roses  blow ; 
The  echoes  of  kind  household  words 
Are  with  me  midst  thy  singing  birds. 

Till  my  heart  dies,  it  dies  away 
In  yearnings,  for  what  might  not  stay ; 
For  love  which  ne'er  deceived  thy  trust, 
For  all  which  went  with  "  dust  to  dust." 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE:  107 

What  now  is  left  me  but  to  raise 
From  thee,  lone  spot !  m j  spirit's  gaze, 
To  lift,  through  tears,  my  straining  eye 
Up  to  my  Father's  house  on  high  ?  • 

Oh,  many  are  the  mansions  there, 
But  not  in  one  hath  grief  a  share  ! 
No  haunting  shades  from  things  gone  by 
May  there  o'ersweep  the  unchanging  sky. 

And  they  are  there,  whose  long-loved  mien 
In  earthly  home  no  more  is  seen  ; 
Whose  places  where  they  smiling  sate, 
Are  left  unto  us  desolate. 

We  miss  them  when  the  board  is  spread, 

We  miss  them  when  the  prayer  is  said. 

Upon  our  dreams  their  dying  eyes 

In  still  and  mournful  fondness  rise.  i 

But  they  are  where  these  longings  vain 
Trouble  no  more  the  heart  and  brain ; 
The  sadness  of  this  aching  love 


Ye  are  at  rest,  and  I  in  tears, 
Ye  dwellers  of  immortal  spheres ! 
Under  the  poplar  boughs  I  stand, 
And  mourn  the  broken  household  band. 

But  by  your  life  of  lowly  faith. 
And  by  your  joyful  hope  in  death, 


108  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

Guide  me,  till  on  some  brighter  shore 
The  severed  wreath  is  bound  once  more. 

Holy  ye  were,  and  good,  and  true ! 

No  change  can  cloud  my  thoughts  of  you  ; 

Guide  me  like  you  to  live  and  die, 

And  reach  my  Father's  house  on  high  ! — Hemans. 

THE  AGED   SAINT  A   WITNESS    FOR   GOD. 

The  Christian  laden  with  years  and  infirmity 
often  wonders  why  he  is  permitted  to  outhve,  as 
he  thinks,  his  usefulness.  As  he  sits  in  his  lonely 
chamber,  he  asks  himself  with  sadness,  "  What 
good  am  I  doing  ?  for  what  purpose  am  1  spared  V' 

Aged  disciple,  be  assured  that  your  heavenly 

^Father   must   have    some  wise    design    in    your 

continuing  to  live,   or  you  would   not  be    alive. 

It  is  he   that   prolongs  your  days,  and  he   does 

nothing  in  vain. 

But  we  may  easily  perceive  important  respects 
in  which  a  child  of  God  can  exert  a  happy 
influence,  even  in  extreme  old  age. 

He  is  a  powerful  wdtness  for  the  truth  and 
value  of  religion.  The  unbeliever  may  scornfully, 
point  to  the  young  convert  rejoicing  in  the  glow 
of  his  early  love,  and  say,  Jn  a  tlw  months  this 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  109 

ardent  love  will  cool  into  indifference  or  positive 
disregard, — religion  is  a  mere  transient  impulse. 
In  reply,  we  will  bid  him  look  to  that  aged  pil- 
grim who,  with  advancing  years,  clings  to  the 
religion  of  Christ  with  a  firmer  and  more  confid- 
ing  grasp,  and  an  ever  growing  conviction  of  its 
truth  ;  and  who,  when  perhaps  the  trace  of  all 
else  has  been  effaced  from  the  mind,  still  remem- 
bers Christ,  and  weeps  at  the  very  mention  of  his 
name.  Yes,  that  poor  widow,  in  her  humble 
cottage,  bowed  beneath  a  load  of  years,  but 
trustfuL  and  joyfully  longing  for  her  change  to 
come,  is  a  mighty  witness  for  God.  Her  quiet 
influence  is  powerful  through  all  the  circle  of  her 
acquaintance.  It  silences  the  sceptic,  it  confirms 
the  faith  of  the  doubting.  €i 

And  when  to  length  of  years,  we  add  the 
trials,  disappointments,  and  bereavements,  which 
in  long  and  perhaps  quick  succession  have  been 
the  pilgrim's  lot,  and  find  that  amid  them  all,  his 
confidence  in  God  has  remained  unshaken,  his 
love  to  the  Saviour  unabated,  and  that  the  "  hope" 
which  had  dawned  upon  the  spring-time  of  his 
life,  shines  still  undimmed  in  old  age,  growing 
brighter     unto     the   perfect   day,  we    may   well 


110  THE       EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

believe  that  a  religion  which  bears  such  fruit  is 
indeed  divine. 

Besides  the  testimony  to  the  truth  and  value 
of  religion  by  so  long  a  continuance  in  the  faith 
of  Christ,  there  may  be  the  present  daily  witness 
of  a  patient  submission  to  the  will  of  God  under 
pains  and  infirmities.  The  saint  may  glorify 
God,  not  only  by  doing,  but  by  suffering  his  will ; 
by  standing  still,  or  lying  passive  in  his  hands ; 
by  being  willing  to  be  set  aside  from  those 
active  labors  which  had  long  been  his  delight, 
and  to  he  and  to  do  nothing,  if  God  so  ordain  ; 
by  calmly,  meekly  waiting  his  will,  whether  to 
live  or  die.  These  are  the  most  difficult  and 
sublime  achievements  of  faith ;  and  these  are 
often  the  blessed  fruits  of  pious  old  age. 

Was  it  in  vain  that  John  Newton  and  Rowland 
Hill  passed  the  limit  of  fourscore  years,  when 
their  old  age  exhibited  such  a  heavenly  piety, 
breathed  forth  such  a  spirit  of  trust  in  God  1 
Aged  saint,  be  patient,  submissive,  cheerful,  and 
you  live  not  in  vain. 

What  maturity  of  experience  can  the  aged  pil- 
grim bring  to  the  edification  and  comfort  of  the 
saints  ?     He  may  be  no  longer  a  soldier  in  active 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  Ill 

service,  but  as  a  veteran  retired  from  the  field, 
covered  perhaps  w^ith  honorable  scars,  he  can 
recount  his  spiritual  conflicts,  how  he  feared 
defeat  and  found  relief,  and  how  worthy  and 
mighty  is  the  Captain  of  salvation.  As  a  way- 
worn pilgrim,  he  can  tell  of  the  City  of  Destruc- 
tion, of  the  Slough  of  Despond,  of  the  terrible 
Mount  Sinai,  of  Bye-Path  Meadow,  of  Doubting 
Castle,  of  the  fierce  Apollyon,  of  the  Valley  of 
Humiliation,  and  the  Valley  of  the  Shadow  of 
Death ;  and  he  can  also  tell  of  the  good  Evange- 
list, of  the  blessed  Cross,  of  the  House  of  the 
Interpreter,  and  the  House  Beautiful,  of  the 
Sword  of  the  Spirit,  of  the  Delectable  Mountain, 
and  the  Land  Beulah. 

Aged  pilgrim,  you  can  talk,  as  the  youngeijil 
cannot,  of  the  faithfulness  of  a  covenant  God  in 
answering  prayer,  fulfilling  promises,  delivering 
from  temptation  and  danger.  You  can  say,  "I 
have  been  young  and  now  am  old ;  yet  have  I 
not  seen  the  righteous  forsaken,  nor  his  seed 
begging  bread."  Your  tremulous  voice  can  sing 
in  strains  such  as  the  young  Christian  cannot 
/each,  of  the  preciousness  of  the  Redeemer,  of  his 
tenderness  and  long-suffering,  of  the  infinite  free- 


112  THE      EVENING      OF      LTFE. 

ness  and  fulness  of  his  redemption,  and  of  the 
power  of  his  blessed  intercession.  You  can 
speak  of  victories  where  he  can  mention  httle 
more  than  conflicts ;  and  you  can  tell  him  how 
he  too  may  triumph  through  grace.  You  can 
best  explain  the  secret  of  peace  and  joy  in 
Christ,  for  your  experience  has  taught  you  to 
pass  beyond  and  above  your  sins  and  your 
doings,  at  once  and  unreservedly  to  him. 

Blessed  be  God,  that  he  permits  his  churches 
to  possess  such  witnesses  for  the  truth  and  excel- 
lence of  the  gospel, — such  guides  to  the  inexpe- 
rienced. With  firmer  and  more  joyful  steps*  we 
run  the  race  set  before  us,  cheered  onward  by 
such  a  cloud  of  witnesses  who  are  ahead  of  us  in 
the  course,  and  who  have  almost  attained  the 
goal  and  the  crown. 

And  there  is  one  w^eapon  which  even  the  pal- 
sied arui  of  age  may  wield,  the  weapon  oi  prayer. 
In  the  use  of  this,  to  which  he  has  been  so  long 
accustomed,  the  aged  saint  may  do  much  for  the 
cause  of  God.  If  his  frail  body  cannot  reach  the 
sanctuary,  his  devout  spirit  may  soar  to  the 
Throne,  and  bring  thence  to  earth  the  choicest 
blessings.     With  his  fervent  petitions,  heard  by 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  11-5 

no  ear  but  God's,  uttered  perhaps  in  the  sileiioo 
of  night,  eternity  may  show  that  the  most  glo- 
rious resuks  were  connected. 

Therefore,  aged  pilgrim,  while  you  live,  pray, 
for  while  you  pray  you  Uve.  Your  season  of 
usefulness  is  not  ended.  God,  your  Father,  loves 
you,  and  for  the  sake  of  his  dear  Son  he  will  not 
suffer  one  of  your  pious  thoughts  or  aspirations 
to  fall  to  the  ground.  He  will  treasure  them  up, 
and  in  the  great  day  when  his  jewels  are  gather- 
ed in,  an  assembled  universe  shall  know  every 
sigh  you  breathed  in  secret  for  the  cause  of 
Christ ;  and  it  shall  receive  a  large  reward 
throifgh  grace.  You  live,  therefore,  because  your 
work  on  earth  is  not  yet  done.  That  ended,  and 
you  shall  be  released. 

TESTIiMONY  OF  x\N  AGED  CrRIST^AlSr 
(near  the  60th  year  of  her  age). 
I  LEAVE  it  as  my  testimony  that  God  has  been 
a  father  to  the  fatherless,  a  husband  to  the  widow, 
the  stranger's  shield,  and  orphan's  stay.  Even 
to  hoar  years  and  old  age  he  has  carried  me,  and 
not  one  good  word  has  failed  of  all  that  he 
has  promised.       '  He  has  done  all  things  well,* 

6* 


114  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

and  at  this  day  I  am  richer  and  happier  than 
ever  I  was  in  my  Hfe.  Not  that  T  am  yet  made 
free  from  sin  ;  that  is  still  my  burden  ; — want  of 
love  and  gratitude,  indolence  in  commanded 
duty,  self-will  and  nestling  in  the  creature.  But 
my  heart's  wish  and  earnest  desire  is  conformity. 
The  bent  of  my  will  is  for  God ;  and  if  my  heart 
deceive  me  not,  my  God  is  the  centre  of  my  best 
affections.  This  God  is  my  God.  He  will 
guide  me  even  unto  death,  through  death,  and  be 
my  portion  through  eternity.  — Isabella  Graham. 

The  Aged  and  Experienced  Christian. — 
There  is  not  a  nobler  sight  in  the  world  than  the 
aged  and  experienced  Christian,  who,  having 
been  sifted  in  the  sieve  of  temptation,  stands 
forth  as  a  confirmer  of  the  assaulted, — testifying 
from  his  own  trials  the  reality  of  religion ;  and 
meeting  by  his  warnings,  and  directions,  and 
consolations,  the  cases  of  all  those  who  may  be 
tempted  to  doubt. — Cecil. 

OLD  AGE. 

The  scathed  and  leafless  tree  may  seem 

Old  age's  mournful  sign, 
Yet  on  its  bark  may  sunshine  gleam, 

And  moonlight  softly  shine. 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  115 

Thus  on  the  cheek  of  age,  shall  rest 

The  light  of  days  gone  by, 
Calm  as  the  glories  of  the  west. 

When  night  is  drawing  nigh. 

As  round  the  scathed  trunk  fondly  chngs 

The  ivy,  green  and  strong, 
Repaying,  by  the  grace  it  brings, 

The  succor  granted  long  ; 

So  round  benevolent  old  age- 
May  objects  yet  sui'vive. 

Whose  greenness  can  tbe  heart  engage, 
And  keep  the  soul  alive. — Barton. 

The  Cross  of  Christ. — The  light  of  the 
sun  is  always  the  same,  but  it  shines  brightest  to 
us  at  noon  ;  the  Cross  of  Christ  was  the  noon- 
tide of  everlasting  love — the  meridian  splendor 
of  eternal  mercy. — M'Laurin. 

THE  BEAUTY  OF  HOLINESS. 
Holiness,  w^herever  seen,  has  its  own  heaven- 
ly beauty,  outshining  all  the  glory  of  the  world 
In  man  it  is  the  reflection  of  God's  own  excel- 
lence, for  he  is  "  glorious  in  holiness."  Its  light 
is  kindled  at   the   Throne.       It    is    that  which 


116  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

adorns  tlie  angels  and  makes  heaven  glorious. 
And  to  whatever  has  a  grace  of  its  own,  this 
imparts  new  lustre,  or  if  aught  have  in  itself  no 
attraction,  this  can  hide  its  deformity  and  make 
it  beautiful.  There  is  a  charm  in  intellectual 
power,  but,  by  high  pre-eminence, 

How  beautiful  is  genius  when  combined 
With  hohness. 

There  is  an  unseemliness  in  mental  dulness  and 
ignorance,  which  awakens  pity  or  contempt ;  yet 
even  here,  holiness  may  so  brightly  shine,  the 
graces  of  the  Spirit  be  so  conspicuous,  that  we 
cannot  but  look  on  with  admiration  and  wonder. 
And  how  soon,  we  think,  will  that  stupid 
intellect  sweep  through  the  realm  of  truth  and 
light  with  a  seraph's  power,  and  outstrip,  it  may 
be,  many  that  now  soar  far  beyond  it. 

But,  though  holiness  have  such  intrinsic  beauty, 
and  confer  such  glory  on  all  who  possess  it,  so 
that  they  become  "sons  of  God,"  being  "  partakers 
of  his  hohness,"  yet  it  awakens  different  kinds 
and  degrees  of  interest,  according  to  the  aspects 
under  which  we  view  it. 

Piety  in  very  early  childhood,  refining  the  souJ 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  117 

from  natural  defilement,  unfolds  a  soft  pleasing 
grace,  as  if  a  flower  of  Paradise  were  opening 
here  below  its  first  unstained  beauty,  to  show 
what  human  nature  would  have  been,  had  not 
sin  debased  it. 

Piety  exhibits  another  beauty,  as  the  Spirit 
lays  his  hand  of  gentle  violence  upon  the  youth- 
ful heart,  taming  its  wild  bounding  passions  which 
loved  to  roam  at  large  in  quest  of  pleasure,  and 
lifting  it  upwards  in  calm  contemplation  to 
heaven. 

When  religion  sanctifies  manhood,  it  developes 
yet  another  beauty.  Then  it  is  seen  in  its 
manly  proportions,  reveahng  the  beauty  of 
strength  and  symmetry,  of  noble  devotion  to  the 
cause  of  God  amid  difficulty  and  self-denial. 

But,  in  some  of  its  aspects,  holiness  assumes 
its  loveliest  charms,  when  associated  with  old 
age.  It  is  then  seen,  not  indeed  in  the  fair  spring 
of  its  early  promise,  or  in  the  summer  of  its 
brightest  sunshine,  but  in  the  autumn  of  its  ripe, 
clustering  vintage.  It  sheds  around  the  soft 
mellow  light  of  evening,  when  the  bustle  and 
glare  of  day  are  over.  It  does  not  so  much  excite 
our  wonder,  as  win  our  love.     It  presents  a  quiet 


1J8  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

beauty — a  picture  of  calm  heavenly  peace. 
Outward  beauty  perhaps  is  faded,  the  eye  is  dim. 
the  voice  unmusical,  the  forehead  deeply  furrowed 
with  the  traces  of  care  and  toil,  the  form  bent 
beneath  the  burden  of  years,  the  step  feeble  and 
uncertain,  and  the  countenance  bereft  of  its  once 
beaming  expressiveness.  But  love  has  its  seat 
there,  and  faith  and  hope,  ornaments  of  grace, 
shining  now  in  their  own  native  lustre,  borrowing 
little  from  adventitious  charms.  The  aged  samt 
often  exhibits  in  richest  perfection  those  quiet 
graces,  which,  though  less  showy,  are  more 
difficult  of  attainment,  of  finer  quality,  and  more 
heavenly  maturity,  than  those  active  endowments 
in  which  grace  is  often  largely  blended  with  and 
obscured  by  nature,  and  which  therefore  more 
attract  the  admiration  of  the  world.  It  demands 
an  "  eye  for  the  beautiful  "  in  grace,  an  eye  of 
spiritual  discernment,  to  love  holiness  for  its  own 
sake,  and  when  associated  with  natural  infirmi- 
ties or  deformities.  Hohness  in  old  age  displays 
itself  not  in  a  bold  energy  of  thought  and  acticm, 
not  in  deeds  of  pious  daring,  but  in  a  way  j^et 
more  sublime,  in  a  calm,  patient,  cheerful  sub- 
mission to  God's  will  amid  pain  and  infirmity ;  in 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  119 

communion  with  him,  and  meditation  upon  his 
word ;  in  believing  his  promises,  and  hoping  unto 
the  end.  These  are  achievements,  "whose  glory 
throws  into  the  shade  many  of  the  deeds  which 
the  world  applauds.  The  very  feebleness  and 
decaying  beauty  of  age  make  holiness  appear  the 
more  glorious,  while  we  see  it  giving  vigor  to 
weakness,  cheerfulness  to  grief,  and  hope  to  the 
certain  prospect  of  death.  There  is  the  power 
of  religion,  the  victory  of  faith.  There  is  grace 
magnified,  and  God  glorified.  There  we  see 
the  pilgrim,  way-worn  and  weary,  waiting  at  the 
threshold  to  hear  the  voice  of  his  Father  bidding 
him  enter  into  rest.  There  is  one  almost 
redeemed  from  the  corruptions  of  earth,  and  soon 
to  wear  a  crown,  and  be  a  companion  of  angels. 
Behold  his  childlike  faith.  He  lies  down  to 
sleep  in  the  arms  of  his  Saviour,  hoping  that  the 
next  light  that  breaks  upon  his  vision  may  be 
that  of  eternity. 

Barzillai. — And  Barzillai  came  down  from 
Rogelim,  and  went  over  Jordan  with  the  king,  to 
conduct  him  over  Jordan.  Now  Barzillai  was  a 
very  aged  man,  even  fourscore  years  old :  and  he 


120  THE      EVENING      OF     LIFE. 

had  provided  the  king  of  sustenance  while  he  lay 
at  Mahanaim:    for  he   was  a  very  great   man. 
And  the  king  said   unto  Barzillai,   Come   thou 
over  with  me,  and  I  will  feed  thee   with  me  in 
Jerusalem.      And   Barzillai  said  unto  the  king, 
How  long  have  I  to  live,  that  I  should  go  up 
with  the  king  unto   Jerusalem  1     I  am  this  day 
fourscore   years  old :  and  can  I  discern  between 
good  and  evil  1  can  thy  servant  taste  what  I  eat 
or  what  I  drink  ?  can  I  hear  any  more  the  voice 
of  singing-men   and  singing- women  ?  wherefore 
then  should  thy  servant  be  yet  a  burden  unto  my 
lord  the  king  !     Thy  servant  will  go  a  little  way 
over  Jordan  with  the  king:   and  why  should  the 
king    recompense   it   me   with   such    a    reward  ? 
Let  thy   servant,  I  pray   thee,  turn  back  again, 
that  I  may  die  in  mine  own  city,  and  be  buried 
by  the  grave  of  my  father  and  my  mother.     But 
behold   thy  servant   Chimham  ;  let  him  go  over 
with  my  lord  the  king ;  and  do  to  him  what  shall 

seem  good  unto  thee And  all  the 

people  went  over  Jordan.  And  when  the  king 
was  coQie  over,  the  king  kissed  Barzillai,  and 
blessed  him :  and  he  returned  unto  his  own 
place. — 2  Sa?n.  xix  31-39. 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  121 


THE  CYPRESS   OF   CEYLON. 

[John  Batuta,  the  celebrated  Mussulman  traveller  of  the 
fourteenth  century,  speaks  of  a  cypress  tree  in  Ceylon,  aniver- 
sally  lield  sacred  by  the  natives,  the  leaves  of  which  were  said 
to  fall  only  at  certain  intervals,  and  he  who  had  the  happiness 
to  find  and  eat  one  of  thera,  was  restored  at  once  to  youth  and 
vigor.  The  traveller  saw  several  venerable  Jogees  or  saints, 
sitting  silent  and  motionless  under  the  tree,  patiently. awaiting 
the  filing  of  a  leaf.] 

They  sat  in  silent  watchfulness 

The  sacred  cypress  tree  about. 
And,  from  beneath  old  wrinkled  brows, 

Their  faiHng  eyes  looked  out. 

Grey  age  and  sickness  waiting  there. 

Through  weary  night  and  lingering  day- 
Grim  as  the  idols  at  their  side, 
And  motionless  as  they. 

Unheeded  in  the  boughs  above, 

The  song  of 'Ceylon's  bird  was  swett ; 

Unseen  of  thera,  the  island  flowers 
Bloomed  brightly  at  their  feet. 

O'er  them  the  tropic  night-storm  swept, 
The  thunder  crashed  on  rock  and  hill ; 

The  cloud-fire  in  their  eyeballs  blazed, 
Yet  there  they  waited  still ! 


122  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE- 

What  was  the  world  without  to  them  ? 

The  Moslem's  sunset  call — the  dance 
Of  Ceylon  maids — the  passing  gleam 

Of  battle-flag  and  lance  ? 

They  waited  for  that  falling  leaf, 
Of  which  the  wondering  Jogees  sing  ; 

Which  lends  once  more  to  wintry  age 
The  greenness  of  its  spring. 

Oh !  if  these  poor  and  blinded  ones 
In  trustful  patience  wait  to  feel, 

O'er  torpid  pulse  and  failing  limb, 
A  youthful  freshness  steal ; 

Shall  we,  who  sit  beneath  that  tree, 
Whose  heahng  leaves  of  Hfe  are  shed, 

In  answer  to  the  breath  of  prayer. 
Upon  the  waiting  head  : 

Not  to  restore  our  failing  forms, 

And  build  the  spirit's  broken  shrine, 

But,  on  the  fainting  soul  to  shed 
A  light  and  hfe  divine  :    . 

Shall  we  grow  weary  in  our  watch. 
And  murmur  at  the  long  delay  ? 

Impatient  of  our  Father's  time, 
And  his  appointed  way  I 


THE      EVENING       OF      LIFE.  123 

Or,  shall  the  stir  of  outward  things 

Allure  and  claim  the  Christian's  eye, 
When  on  the  heathen  watcher's  ear 

Their  powerless  murmurs  die  ? 

Alas  !  a  deeper  test  of  faith 

Than  prison  cell  or  martyr's  stake, 
The  self-abasing  watchfulness 
Of  silent  prayer  may  make. 

Easier  to  smite  with  Peter's  sword, 

Than  "  watch  one  hour"  in  humbhng  prayer: 
Life's  "  great  things,"  like  the  Syrian  lord, 

Our  hearts  can  do  and  dare. 

But  oh  !  we  shrink  from  Jordan's  side, 

From  waters  which  alone  can  save ; 
And  murmur  for  Abana's  banks. 

And  Pharpar's  brighter  w^ave. 

Oh !  Thou,  who  in  the  garden's  shade 

Didst  wake  the  w^eary  ones  again, 
Who  slumbered  at  that  fearful  hour, 

Forgetful  of  thy  pain  : 

Bend  o'er  us  now,  as  over  them. 

And  set  our  sleep-bound  spirits  free, 
Nor  leave  us  slumbering  in  the  watch 

Our  souls  should  keep  with  Thee  ! — J,  G.  WUttier. 


124  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

PEACE    IN    OLD    AGE. 

Old  age  is  commonly  esteemed  an  evil,  and 
we  speak  of  its  burdens  in  the  language  of 
pity,  yet  it  has  its  own  peculiar  pleasures  with 
which  the  younger  stranger  intermeddleth  not. 
Within  the  aged  heart,  cold  and  dead  as  we 
sometimes  deem  it,  may  dwell  a  hidden  life, 
whose  calm  twihght,  though  it  seem  dark  in  con- 
trast with  what  we  call  the  sunny  days  of  child- 
hood, is  most  truly  peaceful  and  happy. 

But  such  is  not  the  case  with  all  who  have 
passed  within  the  shadows  of  life's  evening ;  and 
it  is  an  interesting  question.  How  may  that 
evening  be  made  to  shine  with  a  mild  and  cheer- 
ful radiance  ?  If  we  interrogate  the  earth,  its 
wide  extent  can  send  back  no  satisfactory  an^ 
swer.  Its  wealth  may  avert  the  anxieties  and 
pains  of  poverty — that  evil,  great  indeed  when 
hfe  is  waning;  its  affectionate  smiles  and  sympa- 
thies may  render  home  a  sanctuary  of  love ;  phi- 
losophy and  refined  social  converse  may  perform 
their  graceful  ministry;  and  sometimes  a  pecu- 
liarly happy  constitution  may  help  the  aged  heart 
to  sing  amid  trials  and   infirmities ;  but  not  all 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  125 

these  combined,  and  existing  in  their  best  estate, 
can  plant  and  nourish  within  the  bosom  of  age 
true  and  substantial  peace  Under  the  most 
favorable  circumstances  of  earthly  bliss  in  which 
we  can  imagine  the  aged  to  be  placed,  thoughts 
and  emotions  must  arise  of  a  sombre  hue,  bor- 
rowing their  dark  shades  from  the  past  and 
future.  From  the  past  how  many  memories 
come  thronging  into  the  soul,  of  scenes  and 
friends  once  dear  but  for  ever^gone,  of  hopes 
cherished  only  to  be  blighted,  and  of  errors,  mis- 
takes, and  sins,  darkly  tracing  the  whole  course 
of  life.  And  the  "coming  events"  of  life's  close, 
and  of  the  world  beyond,  so  near  at  hand,  must 
"  cast  their"  deep  "  shadows  before,"  and  invest 
the  future  with  gloom. 

What  now  can  displace  from  "  the  chambers 
of  imagery"  these  gloomy  visitants,  that,  in  their 
stead,  Peace,  that  daughter  of  the  skies  may 
enter  and  diffuse  her  mild  cheerfulness  ? 

From  all  other  responses  let  us  turn,  while  we 
listen  to  the  benignant  voice  of  Jesus :  "  Peace  1 
leave  with  you,  my  peace  1  give  unto  you ;  not 
as  the  world  giveth  give  I  imto  yon.  Let  no» 
y^ur  heart  be  troubled,  neither  let  it  be  afra^  " 


126  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

This  is  the  only  voice,  whose  sweet  and  powerful 
tones  can  hush  into  stilhiess  the  storm  of  passion 
and  cahn  every  anxious  fear.  It  promises  rest  to 
the  wayworn  pilgrim :  "  Come  unto  me  all  ye 
that  labor  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give 
you  rest.  Take  my  yoke  upon  you,  and  learn 
of  me;  fc  I  am  meek  and  lowly  in  heart;  and 
ye  shall  fi  id  rest  unto  your  souls." 

A  livinf^  faith  in  the  Son  of  God,  as  the  Re- 
deemer a?  id  Advocate,  brings  this  peace  and  rest, 
which  foi  m  the  truest  solace  of  old  age.  With 
trust  in  C  hrist  is  connected  the  happy  conscious- 
ness ot  s  ns  forgiven,  of  a  heart  purified,  of  adop- 
tion into  God's  faaiily,  and  of  heirship  to  heaven. 
With  th  s  are  connected  also  filial  trust  in  God, 
meek  sr.bmission  to  bis  will,  and  a  comforting 
belief  ibal  all  things  are  working  together  for 
good.  This  opens  tbe  way  for  free  communion 
with  neiven,  causes  the  promises  to  send  forth 
their  sweet  perfume,  and  death  to  appear  only  as 
a  pleasant  sleep.  The  shadows  of  couiing  evil 
fly  away  before  the  blessed  light  that  streams 
down  upon  the  soul  from  that  world,  where  the 
aged  pilgrim  shall  soon  find  his  glorious  rest. 

And  these  consolations,  which  the  gospel  im- 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  127 

parts  to  all  believers,  may  in  some  respects  be 
peculiarly  precious  to  aged  saints.  The  new- 
born soul  rejoices  in  the  glow  of  his  first  love ; 
the  saint  of  larger  experience  discovers  yet  new 
beauty  and  blessedness  in  Christ ;  but  for  the  aged 
pilgrim  in  whom  gi*ace  has  assiduously  wrought, 
and  patience  had  her  perfect  work,  are  reserved 
richer  clusters  from  the  hving  Vine,  riper  and  of 
sweeter  flavor.  To  him  belongs  that  peace 
which  flows  Hke  a  river  with  its  calm  and  even 
tide — a  peace  which  is  the  result  of  a  long  expe- 
rience of  the  faithfulness  of  God.  He  has 
learned,  as  the  younger  Christian  has  not,  to  go 
at  once  to  his  Redeemer  when  sorrows  rise  or 
temptations  assail — to  hve  by  faith  on  the  Son 
of  God.  The  loss  of  earthly  friends,  the  wither- 
ing of  earthly  hopes,  the  prospect  of  a  speedy 
breaking  up  of  all  earthly  connexions,  even  a 
deeper  insight  into  the  corruption  of  his  nature, 
have  all  caused  him  to  cling  to  Christ  with 
increasing  love. 

A  quiet  home,  kind  friends,  and  a  pecuniary 
competence  may  help  to  smooth  the  declining 
pathway,  but  amid  all  these,  and  incomparably 
beyond  them,  and  even  wholly  apart  from   tbem, 


128  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

amid  sickness,  poverty,  dependence,  and  neglect, 
Jesus,  dwelling  in  the  aged  heart,  is  its  richest 
source  of  peace.  He  diffuses  around  the  infirm 
and  afflicted  saint  the  atmosphere  of  heaven  He 
commands,  and  the  soul  is  still.  He  is  its  sanc- 
tuary, into  which  it  can  run  and  hide  from  the 
griefs  and  cares  of  eaith.  Upon  his  hosom,  the 
bosom  of  infinite  love,  the  weary  head  can  be 
softly  pillowed.  The  legitimate  influence  of 
faith  in  Jesus  Christ  is  a  heavenly  tranquillity  of 
mind.  Aged  disciple !  Is  this  peace  in  its  ful- 
ness not  yet  yours  to  enjoy  ]  We  would  direct 
you  to  Jesus  Beneath  the  Cross,  as  under  the 
cool  shadow  of  a  great  rock  in  a  weary  land, 
may  the  pilgrim  repose  after  the  burden  and 
heat  of  life's  earlier  days,  and  calmly  await  his 
summons  to  the  "  better  land." 

Providence  hath  a  thousand  keys  to  open  a 
thousand  doors  for  the  deliverance  of  his  own. — 
Rutherford. 

DUTIES   AND   EVEXTS. 
Duties  are  ours,  events  are  the  Lord's ;  when 
oia*   faith  goeth  to  meddle  with  events,  and  to 
hold   a  court  (if  I   may   so  speak)   upon   God's 


THE      EVENING       OF      LIFE.  129 

providence,  and  beginneth  to  say,  "  How  wilt 
thou  do  this  and  that  ]"  we  lose  ground  ;  we  have 
nothing  to  do  there,  it  is  our  part  to  let  the 
Almighty  exercise  his  own  office,  and  steer  his 
own  hehn  ;  there  is  nothing  left  us  hut  to  see  how 
we  may  be  approved  of  him,  and  how  we  may 
roll  the  weight  of  our  weak  souls  in  well  doing 
upon  him  who  is  God  omnipotent ;  and  when 
what  we  thus  essay  miscarrieth,  it  shall  neither  be 
our  sin  nor  error. — Rutherford. 

These  are  the  days  of  the  years  of  Abraham's 
life  which  he  lived,  a  hundred  threescore  and 
fifteen  years.  Then  Abraham  gave  up  the  ghost, 
and  died  in  a  good  old  age,  an  old  man,  and  full 
of  years ;  and  was  gathered  to  his  fathers. — 
Genesis  xxv.  7,  8. 

THE  LOVE  OF  CHRIST. 
We  want  nothing  but  faith  in  stronger  exercise 
to  make  us  cheerful  and  comfortable  under  all 
the  actual  and  possible  changes  of  this  poor  life. 
Have  we  not  a  Saviour,  a  shepherd  full  of  com- 
passion and  tenderness  1  If  we  v>ish  for  love  in 
a  friend,  he  has  shown  love  unspeakable;  he  left 
his  glory,  assumed  our   nature,  aiul   suhniitred  to 

7 


130  THE      EVENING      OF       [.  IFE. 

shame,  poverty,  and  death,  even  the  death  of  the 
cross,  that  he  might  save  us  from  sin  and  misery, 
and  open  the  kingdom  of  heaven  to  us  vviio 
were  once  his  enemies.  For  he  saw  and  pitied 
us  when  we  knew  not  how  to  pity  ourselves. 
If  we  need  a  powerful  friend,  Jesus  is  ahnighty  ; 
our  help  is  in  him  who  made  heaven  and  earth, 
who  raises  the  dead,  and  hushes  the  tempest's 
raging  waves  into  a  cahn  with  a  word.  If  we 
need  a  present  friend,  a  help  at  hand  in  the  hour 
of  trouble,  Jesus  is  always  near,  about  our  path 
by  day,  and  our  bed  [)y  night;  nearer  than  the 
light  by  which  we  see,  or  the  air  we  breathe ; 
nearer  than  we  are  to  ourselves ;  so  that  not  a 
thought,  a  sigh,  or  a  tear,  escapes  his  notice. 
Since  then  his  love  and  wisdom  are  infinite,  and 
he  has  already  done  so  much  for  us,  shall  we  not 
trust  him  to  the  end  1  His  mercies  are  countless 
as  the  sands,  and  hereafter  we  shall  see  cause  to 
count  our  trials  among  our  chief  mercies.  He 
sees  there  is  a  need -be  for  them,  or  we  should 
not  have  them,  and  he  has  promised  to  make  all 
things  work  together  for  our  final  good. — John 
Newton,  {when  seventy-six  years  old?) 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  13] 

GOD'S  FAITHFULNESS 
There  are  many  Christians  like  young  sailors, 
who  think  the  shore  and  the  whole  land  do  move, 
when  the  ship  and  they  themselves  are  moved , 
just  so,  not  a  few  imagine  that  God  moveth,  and 
i'aileth,  and  changeth  places,  because  their  godly 
souls  are  subject  to  alteration  ;  but  the  foundation 
of  the  Lord  abideth  sure. — llutherford. 

1  HAVE  been  young,  and  now  am  old ;  yet 
have  I  not  seen  the  righteous  forsaken,  nor  his 
seed  begging  bread. — Psalm  xxxvii.  25. 

Thou  art  my  hope,  O  Lord  God  :  thou  art 
my  trust  from  my  youth. — Fsahn  Ixxi.  5. 

The  dread  and  dislike  of  death  by  no  means 
prove  that  a  person  is  not  a  child  of  God.  Even 
a  strong  behever  may  be  afraid  to  die.  We  are 
not  fond  of  handling  a  serpent,  even  though  its 
sting  is  drawn. — Martin. 

IMPORTANCE  OF  EXERCISE. 

Old  age  is  called  the  winter  of  life,  and  with 
it   are    associated    pain,    infirmity,    and    sorrow. 


l32  THE       EVENING       OF       LIFE. 

The  aged  have  lost  the  elasticitj  and  freshness  of 
earher  days.  They  are  gradually  sinking  be- 
neath the  inevitable  law  that  dooms  man  to  the 
dust.  Their  sun  is  setting ;  the  night  draweth 
on. 

Under  these  circumstances,  they  are  sometimes 
disposed  to  withdraw  enth'ely  from  active  pursuits^ 
and  give  themselves  up  to  an  indolent  repose. 
They  feel  the  need  of  rest  and  quiet  in  the  evening 
of  hfe  ;  and  surely  they,  if  any,  should  enjoy  this 
blessing.  But  they  should  never  forget  that  the 
due  exercise  of  mind  and  body  is  indispensable 
to  happiness.  Age  brings  no  necessary  exemp- 
tion from  this  benevolent  law.  Said  John  New-  ^ 
ton,  in  his  seventieth  year,  "  We  must  ivork 
while  it  is  day,  for  the  night  cometh."  And  he 
was  himself  an  example  of  the  happy  influence 
upon  the  health  and  happiness,  of  his  own  pre- 
cept. 

We  would  not  here  recommend  severe  and 
protracted  toil,  but  only  regular  and  moderate 
exercise,  in  connexion  with  some  pleasing  and^ 
useful  employment.  This  accords  with  the  laws 
of  our  being,  whether  in  youth  or  age.  It  affords 
a   healthful    invigoration    and    refreshment.       It 


THE      EVENING       OF       LIFE.  133 

tends  most  happily  to  draw  the  mind  away  from 
that  melancholy  brooding  over  real  or  fancied 
ills,  which  dries  up  the  fountain  of  life  and  joy 
within  the  soul,  and  in  which  the  unemployed, 
especially  in  advanced  years,  are  prone  to 
mdulge. 

It  is  common  to  hear  men  talk  of  retiring  from 
business,  to  enjoy  at  their  leisure  the  fruits  of  pre- 
vious toil.  But  such  an  expectation  generally 
ends  in  disappointment.  The  pleasure  so  fondly 
anticipated  in  a  freedom  from  toil  and  care, 
comes  not  at  the  bidding.  A  feeling  of  uncom- 
fortable lassitude  and  impatience  ensues.  The 
elegant  home,  with  its  pleasant  arrangements,  its 
shady  walks,  its  cool  retreats,  whatever  taste  and 
wealth  can  furnish  for  embellishment  and  com- 
fort, is  irksome  to  its  possessor,  and  he  almost 
sighs  for  the  bustle  and  bondage  he  has  left. 
And  there  is  nothing  strange  in  this.  Tt  is  the 
natural  result  of  a  violent  transition,  and  of  the 
%'ansgression  of  that  law  which  makes*  us  happy 
only  as  our  powers  are  duly  exercised. 

It  would  be  better  far  that,  instead  of  a  sudden 
withdrawal,  as  age  approaches,  from  the  accus- 
tomed routine  of  labor,  whether  on  the  farm,  in 


J  34  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

the  shop,  the  family,  the  pulpit,  or  wliatever  call- 
ing, there  should  be  still  such  a  continuance  of 
effort  as  is  proportioned  to  the  gradually  dechn- 
ing  strength.  And  we  may  remark,  by  the  way, 
that  such  a  course  would  not  only  greatly  con- 
duce to  happiness,  but  to  Christian  usefulness. 
It  is  by  no  means  true  that  a  moderate  attention 
even  to  worldly  business,  of  necessity  interferes 
with  spiritual  enjoyment  and  devotedness.  We 
may  be  diligent  in  business,  and  j^et  fervent  in 
spirit,  serving  the  Lord.  And  activity  tends  to 
avert  that  lassitude  and  dulness,  that  spiritual 
depression  and  decay  of  mind  and  body,  which 
are  such  powerful  hindrances  to  usefulness. 

If  advanced  years  bring  increased  leisure,  how 
well  for  the  aged,  as  well  honoring  to  God, 
that  it  be  employed  in  his  direct  service.  What 
a  delightful  field  of  activity  is  here  opened  before 
the  Christian  in  the  evening  of  life  !  How  pleas- 
ing to  see  him,  as  he  gradually  retires  from 
worldly  pursuits,  turning  with  increased  affection 
to  the  church,  which  has  had  his  earlier  love  I 
Here  his  mind  may  be  exercised  according  to 
the  measure  of  its  ability,  and  in  the  way  most 
favorable  to  that   calm  and  holy  repose  so  desir- 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  Ib6 

able  for  the  aged.  In  the  exercises  of  devotion, 
in  spiritual  conversation,  in  ministering  the  sweet 
charities  of  the  gospel  to  the  poor,  and  sick,  and 
needy  of  the  flock,  and  in  other  v^ays  seeking  the 
interests  of  the  church  and  the  religious  welfare 
of  the  community,  as  he  has  opportunity  or 
ability,  the  aged  saint  would  renew  his  strength ; 
though  old  he  would  still  be  young.  Many  such 
we  can  recall  to  mind,  whose  labors  of  love  have 
made  them  the  glory  of  oiir  churches.  They 
bear  fruit  in  old  age.  They  are  fair  and  flourish- 
ing. Their  hoary  head,  found  thus  in  the  ways 
of  righteousness,  is  a  crown  of  glory.  And  while 
they  honor  God,  he  honors  and  blesses  them. 
From  not  a  few  of  the  evils  incident  to  age  are 
they,  in  a  measure  or  wholly,  preserved. 

Even  when  the  saint,  through  extreme  infir- 
mity, is  a  "  prisoner  of  the  Lord  "  at  home,  he 
may  exercise  his  mind,  and  brighten  his  decli- 
ning days,  by  nurturing  the  "hidden  life  "  of  piety, 
by  continual  prayers  for  the  church,  and  by 
devout  conversation.  Such  an  earnest  devotion 
to  God,  so  long  as  the  abiUty  is  granted,  will 
prove  a  refreshing  cordial  to  the  soul.  And  that 
cheerfulness  which  is  connected  with  the  spirit 


136  THE      EVENING       OF      LIFE. 

of  benevolence,  is  one  of  the  sources  of  a  vigor- 
ous old  age. 

Familiar  converse  with  the  writings  of  the 
good  and  gifted  will  afford  a  pleasing  exercise  to 
the  mind  amid  growing  infirmities.  Here,  while 
thegitrength  fails,  the  mind  may  be  renewed  daj 
by  day.  Beside  the  fountains  of  holy  thought 
and  feeling,  which  God  has  opened  in  the  works 
of  those  whom  he  has  endowed  to  become 
teachers  and  comforters  to  their  race,  may  the 
aged  pilgrim  sit  and  be  refreshed.  Here,  by  his 
fireside,  what  a  noble  company  he  may  gather 
round  him !  with  what  glorious  thoughts  hold 
communion ! 

I  have  now  in  mind  an  aged  saint,  bent 
beneath  the  burden  of  more  than  fourscore  years, 
a  plain  uneducated  woman,  moving  in  a  liumble 
sphere,  but  favored  with  an  excellent  understand- 
ing, to  whom  a  book,  and  especially  the  "  bock 
of  books,"  was  an  unfailing  companion.  By  this 
habitual  communion  with  the  pure  and  great, 
her  mind,  through  the  blessing  of  God,  retained 
to  the  last  almost  the  sprightUness  of  youth,  even 
when  the  frail  body  was  bowed  and  ready  to 
fail.     Well  do  I  remember  how  her  eye  would 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  137 

kindle  when  she  was  presented  with  a  new 
rehgious  book  ;  and  the  subUme  views  she  would 
express  of  the  majesty  of  God,  the  preciousness 
of  the  Saviour,  and  the  glory  of  heaven,  were  a 
pleasing  proof  of  the  happy  influence  of  the 
practice  we  recommend ; — for  who  can  d^bt 
that  a  premature  decay  of  mental  vigor  would 
have  resuhed  from  the  opposite  course  1  Exer- 
cise, with  the  divine  blessing,  enabled  her  to 
maintain  a  vigorous  life  even  to  the  borders  of 
eternity. 

When  the  sight  at  last  grows  dim,  then  highly 
favored  is  the  aged  Christian,  to  whom  some 
loving  voice  conveys  those  thoughts  which  his 
eyes  can  no  longer  trace  upon  the  printed  page. 
And  the  aged  should,  if  possible,  enjoy  this  daily 
privilege.  Without  it,  we  have  known  them  to 
spend  their  last  days  in  sadness,  and  suffer  a 
premature  decay. 

If  at  length  the  mind  of  the  aged  saint  becomes 
too  weak  to  follow  even  the  reading  of  a  book, 
let  him  fix  his  thoughts  on  Jesus.  The  contem- 
plation of  his  love  will  warm  the  heart,  and 
enkindle  the  mind,  even  when  enfrosted  by 
extreme  old  age. 


138  THE      EVENING      OF      L      FE. 

But  heart  and  flesh  at  last  must  fail,  the  earth- 
ly tabernacle  be  dissolved.  Then  will  the  saint 
leave  behind  for  ever  the  weakness  of  earth,  and 
in  a  glorious  and  perpetual  youth  serve  the 
"  Lord  who  bought  him."  In  that  blessed  world 
above,  there  is  continual  service.  The  lofty 
powers  of  saints  and  angels  are  ever  exercised  in 
loving,  praising,  and  doing  the  will  of,  their 
Creator. 

EXPERIENCE   OF   AN   AGED    IJELIEVER. 

Though  1  am  at  present  in  good  health,  the 
question  of  Pharaoh  to  Jacob  ought  to  be  much 
in  my  thoughts,  "  How  old  art  thou  f '  Indeed, 
I  am  old  enough  to  be  wiser  and  better  than  I 
am.  Now  I  am  turned  of  threescore,  I  have  no 
right  to  expect  that  my  abihties  either  for  preach- 
ing or  writing  will  continue  very  long.  The 
shadows  of  evening  cannot  be  very  distant  from 
me.  It  is  therefore  probable  that  the  "  Messiah  " 
will  be  my  last  book  from  the  press,  and  if  so,  I 
take  leave  of  the  public  with  a  noble  subject. 
Surely  I  am  bound  to  wish  that  while  my  lips  or 
my  fingers  can  move.  His  name  and  His  grace 
should  employ  my  thoughts,  my  words,  and  my 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  139 

pen  ;  and  especially  my  last  words,  whether  in 
the  pulpit,  in  the  parlor,  or  in  my  bed,  and  so 
from  the  press.  What  do  I  live  for,  but  to  bear 
a  frequent  public  testimony  to  Him,  and  to  com- 
mend him  to  my  fellow-creatures  1 

I  long  to  attain  a  habit  of  living  with  the  Lord 
by  the  day ;  to  depend  no  more  upon  to-morrow 
than  yesterday ;  to  hold  myself  in  constant 
readiness;  to  be  willing  to  go  at  a  minute's 
warning,  and  leave  all  behind  me  in  His  hands, 
or  (if  such  were  his  appointment)  to  be  willing 
to  stay  and  see  those  whom  I  love  go  before  me. 
To  be  thus  united  to  His  will,  and  to  rejoice  in 
Him  under  any  possible  change,  would  be  an 
attainment  indeed  !  Perhaps  none  of  us  can 
fully  reach  it  till  we  arrive  at  the  threshold  of 
glory.  However,  we  may  approach  nearer  and 
nearer  to  such  a  frame  of  mind,  and  every  step 
towards  it  is  preferable  to  thousands  of  gold  and 
silver. — John  Newton.  {AgedPilgrirris  Triumph.) 

JOHN   NEWTON  IN   HIS   OLD   AGE. 
It  was  with  a  mixture  of  delight  and  surprise 
that  the  friends  and  hearers  of  this  eminent  ser- 
vant  of  God   beheld   him  bringing  forth  such  a 


140  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

measure  of  fruit  in  extreme  old  age.  Tliougli 
then  almost  eighty  years  old,  his  sight  nearly 
gone,  and  incapable,  through  deafness,  of  joniing 
in  conversation ;  yet  his  public  ministry  was 
regularly  continued,  and  maintained  with  a 
considerable  degree  of  his  former  animation.  His 
memory  indeed  w^as  observed  to  fail,  but  his 
judgment  in  divine  things  still  remained  •  and 
though  some  depression  of  spirits  was  observed, 
which  he  used  to  account  for  from  his  advanced 
age,  yet  his  perception,  taste,  and  zeal  for  the 
truth  which  he  had  long  received  and  taught, 
were  evident.  Like  Simeon,  having  seen  the 
salvation  of  the  Lord,  he  now  only  waited  and 
prayed  to  depart  in  peace. 

After  Mr.  Newton  was  turned  of  eighty,  some 
of  his  friends  feared  he  might  continue  his  public 
ministrations  too  long.  Thej^  marked  not  only 
his  infirmities  in  the  pulpit,  but  felt  much  on 
account  of  the  decrease  of  his  strength,  and  of 
his  occasional  depressions.  Conversing  with 
him  in  January,  1806,  on  the  latter,  he  observed' 
that  he  had  experienced  nothing  which  in  the 
least  affected  the  principles  he  had  felt  and 
taught;    that  his    depressions  were    the    natural 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  141 

result  of  fourscore  years,  and  that,  at  anj  age,  we 
can  only  enjoy  that  comfort  from  om*  principles 
\^  hich  God  is  pleased  to  send.  "  But,"  repUed  I, 
"  in  the  article  of  public  preaching,  might  it  not 
be  best  to  consider  your  work  as  done,  and  stop 
before  you  evidently  discover  you  can  speak  no 
longer  T  "  1  cannot  stop,"  said  he,  raising  his 
voice, — -"  What !  shall  the  old  African  blasphemer 
stop  while  he  can  speak  f ' 

In  every  future  visit,  T  perceived  old  age 
making  rapid  strides.  Ax  length  his  friends  found 
some  difficulty  in  making  themselves  known  to 
him  ;  his  sight,  his  hearing,  and  his  recollection 
exceedingly  failed ;  but  being  mercifully  kept 
from  pain,  he  generally  appeared  easy  and  cheer- 
ful. Whatever  he  uttered  was  perfectly  consistent 
with  the  principles  which  he  had  so  long  and  so 
honorably  maintained.  Calling  to  see  him  a  few 
days  before  he  died,  with  one  of  his  most  intimate 
friends,  we  could  not  make  him  recollect  either 
of  us  ;  but  seeing  him  afterwards  when  sitting  up 
in  his  chair,  I  found  so  much  intellect  remaining, 
as  produced  a  short  and  affectionate  reply,  though 
he  was  utterly  incapable  of  conversation. 

Mr.  Newton  declined  in  this  very  gradual  way, 


142  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

till  at  length  it  was  painful  to  ask  him  a  question, 
or  to  attempt  to  rouse  faculties  almost  gone; 
still  his  friends  were  anxious  to  get  a  word  from 
him  to  learn  the  state  of  his  mind  in  his  latest 
hours. 

About  a  month  before  his  death,  Mr.  Smith's 
niece  was  sitting  by  him,  to  whom  he  said,  "  It  is 
a  great  thing  to  die ;  and  when  heart  and  flesh 
fail,  to  have  God  for  the  strength  of  our  heart,  and 
our  portion  for  ever.  I  know  whom  I  have 
believed,  and  he  is  able  to  keep  that  which  1  have 
committed  unto  him  against  that  great  day. 
Henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of 
righteousness,  which  the  Lord,  the  righteous 
Judge,  shall  give  me  at  that  day." 

When  Mrs.  Smith  came  into  the  room,  he 
said,  "  I  have  been  meditating  on  a  subject :  '  Come 
and  hear,  all  ye  that  fear  God,  and  I  will  declare 
what  he  hath  done  for  my  soul.' " 

At  another  time  he  said,  "More  light,  more 
love,  more  liberty.  Hereafter  I  hope,  when  I 
shut  my  eyes  on  the  things  of  time,  I  shall  open 
them  in  a  better  world.  What  a  thing  it  is  to 
live  under  the  shadow  of  the  wings  of  the 
Almighty  !    I   am  going   the   way  of  all  flesh." 


THE       EVENING      OF      LIFE.  143 

A.nd  when  one  replied,  "  The  Lord  is  gracious/' 
he  answered,  "  If  it  were  not  so,  how  could  1 
dare  to  stand  before  him  ?" 

The  Wednesday  before  he  died,  when  asked 
if  his  mind  was  comfortable,  he  replied,  'I  am 
satisfied  with  the  Lord's  will."  He  seemed  sen- 
sible to  his  last  hour,  but  expressed  nothing 
remarkable  after  these  words.  He  departed 
December  31sr,  1807,  in  the  83d  year  of  his  age. 
— Memow  of  Rev.  John  Newton,  by  Rev.  Richard 
Cecil. 

THE   AGED   SERVING    GOD. 

May  the  old  servants  of  God  be  dismissed  from 
waiting  on  him  ?  No ;  their  attendance  is  still 
required,  and  shall  be  still  accepted ;  they  shall 
not  be  cast  off  by  their  master  in  time  of  old  age. 
Therefore,  let  not  them  desert  his  service.  When, 
through  the  infirmities  of  age,  they  can  no  longer 
be  working  servants  in  God's  family,  yet  they 
may  be  waiting  servants.  Those  that,  hke  Bar- 
zillai,  are  unfit  for  the  entertainments  of  the  courts 
of  earthly  princes,  may  yet  relish  the  pleasures  of 
God's  courts  as  much  as  ever. 

The  Levites,  when  they  were  past  the  age  of 


144  THE       EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

fifty,  and  were -discharged  from  the  toilsome  part 
of  their  ministrations,  yet  still  must  wait  on  God, 
must  be  quietly  waiting  to  give  honor  to  him, 
and  to  receive  comfort  from  him.  Those  that 
have  done  the  will  of  God,  and  their  well-doing 
is  at  an  end,  have  ueed  of  patience  to  enable 
theui  to  wait  till  they  inherit  the  promise ;  and 
the  nearer  the  happiness  is  which  they  are  wait- 
ing for,  the  dearer  should  the  God  be  they  are 
waiting  on,  and  hope  shortly  to  be  with  eter- 
nally.— Matthew  Henry. 

DO    SOMETHING. 

There  is  nothing  more  troublesome  to  a  good 
mind  than  to  do  nothing.  For  besides  the  fur- 
therance of  our  estate,  the  mind  doth  both  delight 
and  better  itself  with  exercise.  There  is  but  this 
difference  then  betwixt  labor  and  idleness,  that 
labor  is  a  profitable  and  pleasant  trouble  ;  idle- 
ness, a  trouble  both  unprofitable  and  comfortless. 
I  will  be  ever  doing  souiething ;  that  either  God 
when  he  cometh  or  Satan  when  he  tempteth, 
may  find  me  busied.  And  yet,  since — as  the  old 
proverb  is — better  it  is  to  be  idle  than  effect  no- 
thing, I  will   not    more  hate  doing  nothing,  than 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  145 

doing  something  to  no  purpose.  1  shall  do  good 
but  a  while ;  let  me  strive  to  do  it  while  I  may. 
— Bishop  Hall. 

Right  Use  of  Wealth. — The  world  teacheth 
me  that  it  is  madness  to  leave  behind  me  those 
goods  that  I  may  carry  with  me;  Christianity 
teacheth  me  that  what  I  charitably  give  ahve  I 
carry  witli  me  dead :  and  experience  teacheth 
me  that  what  !  leave  behind  I  lose.  I  will  carry 
that  treasure  with  me,  by  giving  it,  which  the 
worldling  loseth,  by  keeping  it:  so,  while  his 
corpse  shall  carry  nothing  but  a  winding-sheet  to 
his  grave,  I  shall  be  richer  under  the  earth  than  I 
was  above  it. — Bishop  Hall. 

BENEFIT   OF    AFFLICTION. 

Am  I  afflicted  ?  It  is  a  Father's  correcting 
land.  Am  I  in  want  ?  He  knoweth  it,  and 
ays,  "  The  world  is  mine  and  the  fulness 
i  hereof."  Am  I  in  the  valley  of  humihation  ? 
There  grows  the  lily  of  the  valley ;  and  there, 
blessed  be  the  God  of  all  grace,  have  I  found  that 
Hly,  and  derive  thence  such  invigorating  sweet- 
ness as  none  but  myself  can  know.     Would  1 


146  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

exchange  mj  pain,  my  restless  nights,  nay,  even, 
sometimes,  heart-sinkings,  with  the  alternative 
of  losing  these  heavenly  bestowments  ?  No  ! 
not  to  be  made  empress  of  the  world.  These 
are  but  means  of  pulling  down  the  walls  of  the 
prison  house,  from  whence  the  captive  spirit  shall 
soon  wing  its  way  to  those  realms  of  bliss,  which 
it  is  now  exploring  with  feeble  faith  and  strong 
desire. — 31rs.  Haivkes. 

If  I  cannot  take  2jkasure  in  irifirinities,  1  can 
sometimes  feel  the  profit  of  them.  1  can  con- 
ceive a  king  to  pardon  a  rebel,  and  take  him  into 
his  family,  and  then  say,  "  I  appoint  you,  for  a 
season,  to  wear  a  fetter.  At  a  certain  season,  I 
will  send  a  messenger  to  knock  it  off.  ^n  the 
meantime,  this  fetter  will  serve  to  remind  you  of 
your  state  :  it  may  humble  you,  and  restrain  you 
from  rambling." — Newton. 

Cast  me  not  off  in  the  time  of  old  age ; 
forsake  me  not  when  my  strength  faileth. — 
Psalm  Ixxi.  9. 

O  God,  thou  hast  taught  me  from  my  youth : 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  147 

and  hitherto  have  I  declared  thy  wondrous 
w^orks.  Now  also  when  I  am  old  and  grey- 
headed, O  God,  forsake  me  not;  until  I  have 
showed  thy  strength  unto  this  generation,  and 
thy  power  to  every  one  that  is  to  come. — 
Psahri  Ixxi.  17,  18. 


THE   DEVOUT    MAN. 

A  DEVOUT  man  is  he  that  ever  sees  the  Invisi- 
ble, and  ever  trembleth  before  that  God  he  sees  ; 
that  walks  even  here  on  earth  with  the  God  of 
heaven,  and  still  adores  that  majesty  wdth  whom 
he  converses  ;  that  confers  hourly  with  the  God 
of  spirits  in  his  own  language,  yet  so  as  no 
famiharity  can  abate  of  his  aw^e,  nor  fear  abatd 
aught  of  his  love  :  to  whom  the  gates  of  heaven 
are  ever  open,  that  he  may  go  in  at  pleasure  to 
the  throne  of  grace,  and  none  of  the  angelical 
spirits  can  offer  to  challenge  him  of  too  much 
boldness ;  whose  eyes  are  well  acquainted  with 
those  heavenly  guardians,  the  presence  of  whom 
he  doth  as  truly  acknowledge  as  if  they  were  his 
sensible  companions.  He  is  w^ell  known  of  the 
King  of  Glory  for  a  daily  suitor  in  the  court  of 


148  THE       EVENING       OF      LIFE. 

heaven  ;    and  none  so  welcome   there  as  he  — 

Bishoj)  Hall, 

Human  Frailty. — Our  frail  bodies  are  totter- 
ing habitations  ;  every  beat  of  the  heart  is  a  rap 
at  the  door,  to  tell  us  of  our  danger. — Old  Hum- 
phrey, 

GLORY   OF  HEAVEN. 

The  glory  of  the  heaven  which  the  gospel 
prepares  us  for,  which  faith  leads  us  to,  which 
the  souls  of  behevers  long  after,  as  that  wliich 
shall  give  us  full  rest,  satisfaction,  and  compla- 
cency, is  the  full,  open,  perfect  manifestation  of 
the  glory,  of  the  wisdom,  goodness,  and  love  of 
God  in  Christ,  in  his  person  and  mediation,  with 
the  revelation  of  all  his  counsels  concerning 
them,  and  the  communication  of  their  effects  to 
us. 

To  have  the  eternal  glory  of  God  in  Christ, 
with  all  the  fruits  of  his  wisdom  and  love,  whilst 
we  are  ourselves  under  the  full  participation  of 
the  effects  of  them,  immediately,  directly  revealed 
to  us  in  a  divine  and  glorious  light,  our  souls 
being  furnished  with  a  capacity  to  behold   and 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  149 

perfectly  comprehend  them  ;  this  is  the  heaven 
which,  according  to  God's  promise,  we  look  for. 
It  is  true,  that  there  are  sundry  other  things  in 
particular  that  belong  to  this  state  of  glory ;  but 
what  we  have  mentioned  is  the  fountain  of  them 
all. 

The  v^^hole  of  the  glory  of  the  state  above  is 
expressed  by  being  ever  with  the  Lord ;  where 
he  is,  to  behold  his  glory.  For  in  and  through 
him  is  the  beautiful  manifestation  of  God  and  his 
glory  mad*e  for  evermore  :  and  through  him  are 
all  inward  communications  of  glory  to  us.  There- 
fore, if  we  are  spiritually  minded,  we  should  fix 
our  thoughts  on  Christ  above,  as  the  centre  of 
all  heavenly  glory. — Owen  on  Spiritual-Minded- 
ness. 

RELIEF   FOR   WANDERING  THOUGHTS. 

Some  will  say  that  there  is  not  anything  in  all 
llieir  duty  towards  God,  wherein  they  are  more 
at  a  loss  than  they  are  in  this  one,  gf  fixing  or 
exercising  their  thoughts  on  things  heavenly  or 
spiritual.  They  acknowledge  it  a  duty  :  they  see 
an  excellency  in  it  with  inexpressible  usefulness 
But  though  they  often   attempt  it,  they   cannot 


3^50  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

attain  to  anything  but  what  makes  them  ashamed 
both  of  it  and  themselves.  Their  minds,  they 
find,  are  unsteady,  apt  to  rove  and  wander,  or 
give  entertainment  to  other  things,  and  not  to 
abide  on  the  object  which  they  design  their 
meditation  towards.  On  these  considerations, 
ofttimes  they  are  discouraged  to  enter  on  the 
duty,  ofttimes  give  it  over  so  soon  as  it  is  begun, 
and  are  glad  if  they  come  off  without  being 
losers  by  their  endeavors,  which  often  befalls 
them. 

When  you  find  yourselves  perplexed  and  en- 
tangled, not  able  comfortably  to  persist  in  spiritual 
thoughts  to  your  refreshment,  take  these  two 
directions  for  your  rehef. 

1.  Cry  and  sigh  to  God  for  help  and  relief. 
Bewail  the  darkness,  weakness,  and  instability  of 
your  minds,  so  as  to  groan  within  yourselves  for 
dehverance.  And  if  your  designed  meditations 
do  issue  only  in  a  renewed  gracious  sense  of 
your  own  weakness  and  insufficiency,  whh  ap- 
plication to  God  for  supplies  of  strength,  they  are 
by  no  means  lost  as  unto  a  spiritual  account. 
The  thoughts  of  Hezekiah,  in  his  meditations, 
did  not  seem  to  have  any  great  order  or  consis- 


T'H  E      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  151 

tency,  when  he  so  expressed  ihem ;  "Like  a 
crane  or  a  swallow,  so  did  I  chatter  :  I  did  mourn 
as  a  dove :  mine  eyes  failed  w  ith  looking  up- 
wards;  O  Lord,  I  am  oppressed,  undertake  for 
me."  When  the  soul  labors  sincerely  for  com- 
munion with  God,  but  sinks  into  broken  and 
confused  thoughts  under  the  weight  of  its  own 
weakness,  yet  if  he  looks  to  God  for  relief,  his 
chattering  and  mourning  will  be  accepted  with 
God,  and  profitable  to  himself. 

2.  Supply  the  brokenness  of  your  thoughts 
with  ejaculatory  prayers.  So  was  it  with  Heze- 
kiah ;  when  his  meditations  were  weak  and 
broken,  he  cried  out  in  the  midst  of  them,  "  O 
Lord,  I  am  oppressed,  undertake  for  me." 

Lastly,  Be  not  discouraged  with  an  apprehen- 
sion that  all  you  can  attain  to  in  the  discharge 
of  this  duty,  is  so  little,  so  contemptible,  as  that 
it  is  to  no  purpose  to  persist  in  it.  Nor  be 
wearied  with  the  difficulties  you  meet  with  in  its 
performance.  You  have  to  do  with  him  only  in 
this  matter,  who  will  not  break  the  bruised  reed, 
nor  quench  the  smoking  flax ;  whose  wall  is  that 
none  should  despise  the  day  of  small  things. 
And  if  there  be  in  this  duty  a  ready  mind,  it  is 


152  THE       EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

accepted,  according  to  what  a  man  hath,  and  not 
according  to  what  he  hath  not.  He  that  can 
bring  into  this  treasury  only  the  mites  of  broken 
desires  and  ejaculatory  prayers,  so  they  be  Lis 
best,  shall  not  come  behind  them  who  cast  into  it 
out  of  their  great  abundance  of  abihty  and  skill 
— Owen  on  Spiritual- Mindedness. 

LOVE. 

*  *  *  *  • 

•    The  autumn  of  love 

Is  the  season  of  cheer — 
Life's  mild  Indian  summer, 

The  smile  of  the  year  ; 
Which  comes  when  the  golden, 

Ripe  harvest  is  stored  ; 
And  yields  its  own  blessings — 

Repose  and  reward. 

The  winter  of  love 

Is  the  beam  that  we  win, 
While  the  storm  scowls  without, 

From  the  sunshine  within. 
Love's  reign  is  eternal. 

The  heart  is  his  throne, 
And  he  has  all  seasons 

Of  life  for  his  own. — Morns, 


^^. 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  153 

WHICH   IS  THE  HAPPIEST  SEASON? 

At  a  festal  party  of  old  and  young,  the  ques- 
tion was  asked,  which  season  of  hfe  was  the 
most  happy?  After  being  freely  discussed  by 
the  guests,  it  was  referred  for  answer  to  the  host, 
upon  whom  was  the  burden  of  fourscore  years. 
He  asked  if  they  had  noticed  a  grove  of  trees 
before  the  dwelling,  and  said,  "  When  the  spring 
comes,  and  in  the  soft  air  the  buds  are  breaking 
on  the  trees,  and  they  are  covered  with  blossoms^ 
I  think.  How  heautiful  is  Spring !  And  when 
the  summer  comes,  and  covers  the  trees  with  its 
heavy  fohage,  and  singing  birds  are  all  among  the 
branches,  I  think,  Hoiv  heautiful  is  Bummer  I 
When  autumn  loads  them  with  golden  fruit,  and 
their  leaves  bear  the  gorgeous  tint  of  frost,  I  think, 
How  heautiful  is  Autumn  !  And  when  it  is  sere 
winter,  and  there  is  neither  fohage  nor  fruit,  then 
I  look  up,  and  through  the  leafless  branches,  as  1 
could  never  until  now,  I  see  the  stars  shine 
through." — Dr,  Ada?ns. 

CHRIST   THE  MEDIATOR. 
Live  by  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.     We 
cannot  with  any  confidence  wait   (1|H)5i    (lod   but 

8 


1 64  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

in  and  through  a  Mediator,  for  it  is  by  his  Son 
that  God  speaks  to  us,  and  hears  from  us ;  all 
that  passes  between  a  just  God  and  poor  sinners 
must  pass  through  the  hands  of  that  blessed 
*'  Daysman  who  has  laid  his  hand  upon  them 
both ;"  every  prayer  passes  from  us  to  God,  and 
every  mercy  from  God  to  us,  by  that  hand  It  is 
in  the  face  of  the  anohited  that  God  looks  upon ' 
us;  and  in  the  face  of  Jesus  Christ  that  we  be- 
hold the  glory  and  grace  of  God  shining.  It  is  by 
Christ  that  we  have  access  to  God,  and  success 
with  him  in  prayer,  and  therefore  must  make 
mention  of  his  righteousness,  even  of  his  only. 
And  in  that  habitual  attendance  we  must  be  all 
the  day  living  upon  God ;  we  must  have  an 
habitual  dependence  on  him,  who  always  appears 
in  the  presence  of  God  for  us,  always  gives 
attendance  to  be  ready  to  introduce  us.—M. 
Henrv, 

THOUGHTS   OF  GOD 

Death  will  bring  us  all  to  God,  to  be  judged 
by  him;  it  will  bring  all  the  saints  to  him,  to  the 
vision  and  fruition  of  him  ;  and  one  we  are 
hastening  to,  and  hope  to  be  for  ever  with  we  are 


THE      EVENING      OF       LIFE.  155 

concerned  to  wait  upon,  and  to  cultivate  an 
acquaintance  with.  Did  we  think  more  of  death 
we  should  converse  more  with  God.  Our  dying 
daily  is  a  good  reason  for  our  worshipping  daily ; 
and  therefore,  wherever  we  are,  we  are  con- 
cerned to  keep  near  to  God,  because  we  know 
not  w4iere  death  will  meet  us.  !f  we  continue 
w^aiting  on  God  and  all  the  day  long,  we  shall 
grow  more  experienced  and  expert  in  the  great 
mystery  of  communion  with  God  ;  and  thus  our 
last  days  will  become  our  best  days,  our  last 
works  our  best  works,  and  our  last  comforts  our 
sweetest  comforts. — M.  Henry. 

THE   SONG   OF   SEVENTY. 
I  AM  not  old — I  cannot  be  old, 

Though  threescore  years  and  ten 
Have  wasted  away,  like  a  tale  that  is  told, 

The  lives  of  other  men. 

I  am  not  old ;  though  friends  and  foes 

Alike  have  gone  to  their  graves, 
And  left  me  alone  to  my  joys  or  my  woes, 

As  a  rock  in  the  midst  of  the  waves. 

I  am  not  old — I  cannot  be  old, 

Though  tottering,  wrinkled,  and  grey ) 


156  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

Though  my  eyes  are  dim,  and  my  marrow  is  cold 
Call  me  not  old  to-day. 

For  early  memories  round  me  throng, 
Old  times,  and  manners,  and  men, 

As  I  look  behind  on  my  journey  so  long 
Of  threescore  miles  and  ten. 

I  look  behind,  and  am  once  more  young, 

Buoyant,  and  brave,  and  bold. 
And  my  heart  can  sing,  as  of  yore  it  sung. 

Before  they  called  me  old. 

I  do  not  see  her — the  old  wife  there- 
Shrivelled,  and  haggard,  and  grey. 

But  I  look  on  her  blooming,  and  soft,  and  fair. 
As  she  was  on  her  wedding-day. 

I  do  not  see  you,  daughters  and  sons. 
In  the  likeness  of  women  and  men. 

But  I  kiss  you  now  as  I  kissed  you  once. 
My  fond  little  children  then. 

And,  as  my  own  grandson  rides  on  my  knee, 

Or  plays  with  his  hoop  or  kite, 
I  can  well  recollect  I  was  merry  as  he — 

The  bright-eyed  little  wight. 

'Tis  not  long  since,  it  cannot  be  long. 

My  years  so  soon  were  spent, 
Since  I  was  a  boy,  both  straight  and  stroDg, 

Yet  now  am  I  feeble  and  bent. 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE,  157 

A  dream,  a  dream, — it  is  all  a  dream, 

A  strange,  sad  dream,  good  sooth  , 
lor  old  as  I  am,  and  old  as  I  seem, 

My  heart  is  full  of  youth. 

Eye  hath  not  seen,  tongue  hath  not  told, 

And  ear  hath  not  heard  it  sung. 
How  buoyant  and  bold,  though  it  seems  to  grow  old, 

Is  the  heart,  for  ever  young ; — 

For  ever  young, — though  life's  old  age 

Hath  every  nerve  unstrung  : 
The  heart,  the  heart,  is  a  heritage 

That  keeps  the  old  man  young  ! — Tupper. 

P\ther  and  Son. — How  pleasant  it  is  for  a 
father  to  sit  at  his  child's  board  !  It  is  like  the 
aged  man  recHning  under  the  shadow  of  the  oak 
whicli  he  has  planted. —  Wa/le?-  Scott, 

VALUE   OF   RELIGION. 

1  ENVY  no  quahty  of  the  mind  or  intellect  in 
others, — not  genius,  power,  wit,  or  fancy  ;  but  if  I 
could  choose  what  would  be  most  delightful,  and 
I  believe  most  useful  to  me,  I  should  prefer  a 
firm  religious  belief  to  every  other  blessing,  for  it 
makes   life  a  discipline  of  goodness,  creates  new 


le'SS  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

hopes  when  all  earthly  hopes  vanish,  and  throws 
over  the  decay,  the  destruction  of  existence,  the 
most  gorgeous  of  all  lights  :  awakens  life  even  in 
death,  and  from  corruption  and  decay  calls  up 
beauty  and  divinity;  makes  an  instrument  of 
torture  and  of  shame  the  ladder  of  ascent  to 
paradise ;  and  far  above  all  combinations  of 
earthly  hopes,  calls  up  the  most  delightful  visions 
of  palms  and  amaranths,  the  gardens  of  the 
blessed,  the  security  of  everlasting  joys,  where 
the  sensualist  and  the  sceptic  view  only  gloom, 
decay,  and  annihilation. — H,  Davy. 

CHRIST'S   LOVE  TO   HIS   PEOPLE. 

Observe,  O  my  soul,  though  thy  celestial 
Bridegroom  finds  not  in  thee  any  merit,. worthi- 
ness, or  beauty,  he  will  wash  thee  himself  with 
his  blood;  he  will  adorn  thee,  and  make  thee 
truly  amiable  to  himself  and  to  his  Father. 

O  sweet  and  eternal  truth  !  "  He  has  loved  us, 
and  washed  us  from  our  sins  in  his  own  blood." 
Being  clothed  with  his  righteousness,  we  have 
more  than  angelical  beauty.  If  we  l^ave  received 
the  spirit  of  adoption,  let  us  cleave  to  Christ 
alone,  love  him  above  all  things,  and  walk  in  his 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  159 

commandments.     This  is  not  only  onr  duty,  but 
a  needful  evidence  of  our  sonship  — Bogatzky. 

OLD  AGE. 

Why  should  old  age  escape  unnoticed  here, 
That  sacred  era  to  reflection  dear  ? 
That  peaceful  shore  where  passion  dies  away, 
Like  the  last  wave  that  ripples  o'er  the  bay  ? 
Oh  !  if  old  age  were  cancelled  from  our  lot. 
Full  soon  would  man  deplore  the* unhallowed  blot? 
Life's  busy  day  would  want  its  tranquil  even, 
And  earth  would  lose  its  stepping-stone  to  heaven. 

Caroline  Gilman. 


DISSUASIVES   AGAINST  A   MURMURING  SPIRIT. 

CoMPLAiNEST  thou,  Qij  soul,  of  thy  long  impri- 
sonment, of  thy  long  continued  disappointment 
of  escape  from  thy  narrow,  irksome  cage  ? 
Faintest  thou  because  thy  labor  is  not  over,  nor 
the  battle  vs^on  ?  Rather  humble  thyself,  and  put. 
thy  mouth  in  the  dust,  that  with  all  that  has 
been  done  for  thee,  thou  hast  done  so  little  thy 
self  towards  obtaining  a  meetness  for  thy  heavenly 
inheritance.  Were  the  corn  fully  ripe,  it  would 
be  gathered  into  the  garner.  Thou  art  not 
ripened  yet.     Eesides,  were  there  no   other  rea- 


160  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

sons  why  thou  shouldst  wait  patiently,  it  is 
enough  that  it  is  the  wdll  and  good  pleasure  of 
thy  Heavenly  Father.  Hast  thou  no  obligations 
to  him  (whose  thou  art  by  creation,  redemption, 
adoption,  preservation),  for  mercies  temporal  and 
spiritual,  through  a  whole  life  1  Gird  up  the 
loins  of  thy  mind,  and  say,  "What  shall  I  render 
unto  the  Lord  for  all  his  benefits  ? "  Nothing 
canst  thou  render  in  a  way  of  merit ;  but  every- 
thing in  doing  and  suffering  according  to  his  will. 
— Mrs.  Hatches. 

THE   DISCONSOLATE    SATNT   ENCOURAGED. 

"  Why  art  thou  cast  down,  O  my  soul  ?"  when 
the  speedy  return  of  every  birth-day  should  make 
thee  glad  that  thou  art  one  year  nearer  to  the 
haven  of  rest,  where  thou  hast  so  long  desired  to 
be.  Has  any  new  thing  happened  unto  thee  \ 
anything  that  is  not  common  to  old  age — com- 
mon for  an  afflicted  pilgrim,  with  a  vile  body  of 
sin  and  death,  to  encounter  and  endure  ?  Art 
thou  not  content  to  bear  the  breakings  up  of 
uature,  with  the  drying  up  of  its  springs ;  and  to 
walk  through  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death 
as   those  with  whom,  in  former  times,  thou  hast 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  161 

had  sweet  society,  even  when  health  and  vigor 
were  decayed,  and  when,  with  tottering  steps 
and  many  a  groan,  they  waited  for  that  dehver- 
ance  which  they  have  now  obtained  1  Dost  thou 
expect  that  a  new  way  is  to  be  made  for  thee, 
instead  of  the  royal  way  ordained  for  all  pil- 
grims to  the  holy  city  1  Look  at  thy  dear  rela- 
tives,— mother,  brother,  sisters,  and  others, — and 
again  say,  "Why  art  thou  cast  down,  O  my  soul, 
and  why  art  thou  disquieted  within  me?  Hope 
thou  in  God,  for  I  shall  yet  praise  him,  who  is  the 
health  of  my  countenance  and  my  God." — Mrs, 
Hawkes, 

THE  PEASANT   ON   THE    WELSH  MOUNTAINS. 

It  is  told  of  a  poor  peasant  on  the  Welsh 
mountains,  that  month  after  month,  year  after 
year,  through  a  long  period  of  declining  life,  he 
was  used  every  morning,  as  soon  as  he  awoke,  (o 
open  his  casement  window  towards  the  east,  and 
look  out  to  see  if  Jesus  Christ  was  comine:.  He 
was  no  calculator,  or  he  need  not  have  looked  so 
long  ;  he  was  a  student  of  prophecy,  or  he  would 
not    have   looked   at  all;    he  was   ready,  or  he 

would  not  have  been  in  so  much  haste  ;  he  was 

8* 


J  62  THE      EVENING      OF     LIFE. 

willing,  or  he  would  rather  have  looked  another 
waj  ;  he  loved,  or  it  would  not  have  heen  the 
first  thought  of  the  morning.  His  master  did  not 
come,  but  a  messenger  did,  to  fetch  the  ready  one 
home ;  the  same  preparation  sufficed  for  both,  the 
longing  soul  was  satisfied  w^ith  either. 

Often,  when  in  the  morning  the  child  of  God 
awakes,  wearily,  and  encumbered  with  the  flesh; 
perhaps  from  troubled  dreams ;  perhaps  with 
troubled  thoughts,  his  Father's  secret  comes 
presently  across  him;  he  looks  up,  if  not  out,  to 
feel  if  not  to  see  the  glories  of  that  last  morning 
when  the  trumpet  shall  sound,  and  the  dead 
shall  arise  indestructible :  no  weary  limbs  to  bear 
the  spirit  down ;  no  feverish  dreams  to  haunt  the 
visions  ;  no  dark  forecasting  of  the  day's  events, 
or  returning  memory  of  the  griefs  of  yesterday. — 
Fry. 

PASSING   UNDER   THE   ROD. 
I  SAW  when  a  father  and  mother  had  leaned 

On  the  arms  of  a  dear  cherished  son, 
And  the  star  in  tlie  future  grew  bright  in  their  gaze, 

As  they  saw  the  proud  place  he  had  won ; 
And  the  fast  coming  evening  of  life  promised  fair 

And  its  pathway  grew  smooth  to  their  feet, 


THE      EVENING      OF     LIFE.  163 

And  the  star-light  of  Love  glimmered  bright  at  the  end, 

And  the  whispers  of  Fancy  were  sweet ; — 
But  I  saw  when  they  stood  bending  low  o'er  the  grave 

Where  their  hearts'  dearest  hope  had  been  laid, 
And  the -star  had  gone  down  in  the  darkness  of  night, 

And  joy  from  their  bosoms  had  fled. 
But  the  Healer  was  there,  and  his  arms  were  around. 

And  he  led  them  with  tenderest  care. 
And  he  showed  them  a  star  in  the  bright  upper  world — 

'Twas  their  star  shining  brilliantly  there  ! 
They  had  each  heard  a  voice — 'twas  the  voice  of  their  God, 

"  I  love  thee,  I  love  thee — ^pass  under  the  rod  !" 

M.  S.B.Dana. 

THE  BIBLE. 
O  THOU  Bible  !  holj  book  of  wonders !  whai 
more  can  we  need,  when  He  who  bears  "  the  key 
of  David  "  opens  to  us  thj  treasures  1  Where  is 
the  darkness  which  thj  hght  will  not  dispel  1 
where  the  emptiness  which  thy  tree  of  life  will 
not  satisfy  1  where  the  thirst  which  thy  living 
streams  will  not  quench  1  where  the  mountains 
which  cannot  be  ascended,  when  we  have  with 
us  thy  rod  and  staff  I  O  Word  of  God  !  sent 
from  heaven,  who  can  estimate  the  fulness  of  that 
service  of  love  which  thou  hast  wrought  for  us  ? 
We  seek  after  God — thou  unveilest  to  us  his  face 


#/ 


164  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

We  desire  to  know  his  will — tliou  disco verest  to 
us  his  law,  with  its  thunders  and  lightnings. 
Terrified  by  the  voice  from  Sinai,  we  inquire 
into  the  state  of  our  hearts — thou  disclosest  to  us 
their  most  secret  depths.  We  sink  under  the 
heavy  load  of  our  sins — thou  showest  to  us  the 
sentence  of  condemnation  torn  asunder,  and  nailed 
to  the  Saviour's  cross.  We  tremble  to  find  that 
we  are  naked  in  the  presence  of  a  holy  God — 
thou  tellest  us  of  the  spotless  righteousness  of 
Immanuel,  and  sajest  gently,  "  Go  in  peace." 
We  fear  lest  we  should  not  walk  worthy  ©f  our 
calling — thou  say  est  to  us,  "  Take  courage  ;  for 
Christ  is  made  of  God  unto  you  wisdom,  and 
righteousness,  and  sanctification,  and  redemp- 
tion." We  tremble  before  the  enemy  who  would 
fain  swallow  us  up — again  thou  raisest  our  heads : 
"  The  Lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah  hath  conquered ; 
take  courage,  take  courage."  Trouble  surrounds 
us — thou  liftest  us  out  of  the  abyss  :  see,  it  was 
the  chastisement  of  love.  We  are  left  alone — 
thou  directest  us  to  a  friendly  bosom,  where  all 
rears  are  wiped  away.  The  path  of  our  pilgrim- 
age is  dark  and  gloomy — thou  givest  us  the  wings 
of  hope,  so  that  we  fly  away  over  this  w  orld's 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  165 

mountains.  The  day  of  our  life  is  coming  lo  a 
close,  the  evening  is  drawing  nigh — thou  openest 
to  us  a  window  that  looketh  to  the  east,  and 
behold,  we  see  in  the  distance  the  glorious  lights 
of  our  own  eternal,  and  oh,  what  a  house  I  O 
Word  of  Life  !  treasure  of  salvation  !  without 
equal ;  which  makes  our  poverty  rich,  our  weak- 
ness strong,  gilding  with  heavenly  light  the  shades 
of  our  earthly  pilgrimage !  let  us  kiss  thee  with 
kisses  of  love — let  us  cover  thee  with  tears  of  joy. 
— F.  W.  Krwninacher, 


"E'en  down  to  old  age  all  ray  people  shall  prove 
My  sovereign,  eternal,  unchangeable  love ; 
And  when  hoary  hairs  shall  their  temples  adorn, 
Like  lambs  in  my  bosom  they  still  shall  be  borne." 

A  Lesson  of  Faith. — Wouldst  thou  know,  O 
parent,  what  is  that  faith  which  unlocks  heaven  ? 
Go  not  to  wrangling  polemics,  but  drajv  to  thy 
bosom  thy  little  one,  and  read  hi  that  clear,  trust- 
ing eye  the  lessons  of  eternal  hfe.  Be  only  to 
thy  God  as  thy  child  is  to  thee,  and  all  is  done ! 
Blessed  shah  thou  be,  indeed — "  a  little  child  shall 
lead  thee  I" 


% 


166  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

Baynham,  the  blessed  martyr,  when  at  the 
stake,  said,  "  O  ye  Papists,  you  talk  of  miracles ; 
behold  here  a  true  one :  these  flames  are  to  me  a 
bed  of  roses.'' — Li/e. 

An  aged  man's  voice  has  its  beauties,  though  it 
is  weak  and  low. — Cicero, 

MY   FATHER'S   GRAVE. 

It  is  well  for  the  Christian  that  the  arrange- 
ment of  his.  lot  is  in  better  hands  than  his  own. 
All  that  relates  to  life  or  death  he  may  gratefully 
leave  to  him  who  holds  the  keys  of  both.  But, 
were  it  lawful  to  express  a  choice,  the  position  of 
the  veteran,  who,  having  fought  the  good  fight, 
finishes  his  course  in  the  possession  of  his  facul- 
ties, and  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  hope  full  of 
immortality,  would  seem  the  happier  portion. 
To  have  Uved  to  some  valuable  purpose,  and  to 
have  served  their  generation  according  to  the 
will  of  God,  may  prove  a  source  of  holy  satisfac- 
tion and  delight  to  the  servants  of  Christ,  even 
when  they  rest  from  their  labors  and  their  works 
follow  them. 

"  Then  your  lease  is  out,"  said  one,  as  a  vene- 


I 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  167 

rable  minister  remarked  that  his  days  had  ex- 
ceeded threescore  years  and  ten.  "  I  never  had 
a  lease,"  that  minister  rephed  ;  "  I  was  always  a 
tenant  at  will,  and  I  have  often  had  warning  to 
quit." 

The  final  notice  to  that  effect  was  delivered 
about  two  years  afterwards,  when,  one  morning, 
indications  not  easily  mistaken  assured  him  that 
the  time  of  his  departure  was  at  hand.  Perfectly 
calm  and  collected,  he  sent  his  sexton  round  the 
village  to  invite  his  httle  flock  to  come  and  see 
their  pastor  die.  The  last  four  hours  of  his  life 
he  spent  in  separately  commending  them  "  to 
God,  and  to  the  word  of  his  grace  ;"  and  then,  in 
the  act  of  turning  to  find  an  easier  posture,  he 
fell  asleep  in  Jesus. 

Among  some  papers,  the  seal  of  which  was  not 
to  be  broken  till  his  decease,  was  found  a  letter 
to  his  children,  which,  after  alluding  to  some 
matters  in  relation  to  his  will,  closed  with  these 
words  :  "  Press  on  :    follow  me  to   glory.     Your 

FATHER  BIDS  YOU  FAREWELL." 

In  the  sanctuary  where  for  two  and  forty 
years  belabored  for  the  glory  of  God  and  the  sal- 
vation of  men,  his  remains  aAvait  the  resurrection 


168  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

of  the  just.  And  there  has  the  writer,  while 
weeping  over  the  long  flat  stone  which  records 
his  name,  recalled  the  exclamation  of  t  lisha : 
"  My  father  !  my  father  !  the  chariots  of  Israel, 
and  the  horsemen  thereof!" — D.  E.  Fo?'d. 


Baxter's  Dying  Words. — The  Rev.  Richard 
Baxter,  when  near  the  close  of  his  course,  ex- 
claimed, "  I  have  pains — there  is  no  arguing 
against  sense ;  but  T  have  peace,  I  have  peace.'* 
"  You  are  now  drawing  near  yoin*  long  desired 
home,"  said  one.  "  I  believe,  I  l)elieve,"  was  his 
reply.  When  asked,  "  How  are  you  V  he 
promptly  answered,  "Almost  well  !" 

THE   OLD   MAN'S   FUNERAL. 

I  SAW  an  aged  raan  upon  his  bier  ^ 

His  hair  was  tliin  and  white,  and  on  his  brow 

A  record  of  the  cares  of  many  a  year  ; — 
Cares  that  were  ended  and  forfrotten  now. 

And  there  was  sadness  round,  and  faces  bowed, 

And  woman's  tears  fell  fast,  and  children  wailed  aloud. 

Then  rose  another  hoary  man,  and  said. 
In  faltering  accents,  to  that  weeping  train, 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  169 

**  Why  mourn  ye  that  our  aged  friend  is  dead  ? 

Ye  are  not  sad  to  see  the  gathered  grain, 
Nor  when  their  mellow  fruit  the  orchards  cast, 
Nor  when  the  yellow  woods  shake  down  the  ripened  masl. 

Ye  sigh  not  when  the  sun,  his  course  fulfilled, 
His  glorious  course,  rejoicing  earth  and  sky. 

En  the  soft  evening,  when  the  winds  are  stilled. 
Sinks  where  his  islands  of  refreshment  lie. 

And  leaves  the  smile  of  his  departure,  spread 

O'er  the  warin-colored  heaven  and  ruddy  mountain  head. 

Why  weep  ye,  then,  for  him,  who,  having  won 
The  bound  of  man's  appointed  years,  at  last. 

Life's  blessings  all  enjoyed,  life's  labors  done. 
Serenely  to  his  final  rest  has  passed : 

While  the  soft  memory  of  his  virtues,  yet 

Lingers  Hke  twilight  hues,  when  the  bright  sun  is  set  ?" 

Bryant. 

BENEFITS  OF  AFFLICTION. 
When  we  pray  for  increase  of  faith  and  grace, 
and  that  we  may  have  stronger  proofs  of  our  own 
sincerity,  and  of  the  Lord's  faithfuhiess  and  care, 
we  do  but,  in  other  words,  pray  for  affliction. 
He  is  the  best  known  and  noticed  in  the  time  of 
trouble,  as  a  present  and  all-sufficient  help. 
How  grand  and  magnificent  is  the  arch  over  our 


170  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

heads  in  a  starry  night !  But  if  it  were  always 
day,  the  stars  could  not  be  seen.  The  firmament 
of  Scripture,  if  I  may  so  speak,  is  spangled  with 
exceeding  great  and  precious  promises,  as  the 
sky  is  with  stars,  but  the  value  and  beauty  of 
many  of  them  are  only  perceptible  to  us  in  the 
night  of  affliction. — John  Newton, 


THE  HOSPITAL  AND  THE  PALACE. 
God's  house  is  a  hospital  at  one  end,  and  a 
palace  at  the  other.  In  the  hospital  end  are 
Christ's  members  upon  earth,  conflicting  with 
various  diseases,  and  confined  to  a  strict  regimen 
of  his  appointing.  What  sort  of  a  patient  must 
he  be,  who  would  be  sorry  to  be  told  that  the 
hour  is  come  for  his  dismission  from  the  hospital, 
and  to  see  the  doors  thrown  wide  open  for  his 
admission  into  the  presence  ! — Adam. 

NEARER  HOME.  . 

We  are  travelling  in  the  coach  of  time  ;  every 
day  and  hour  brings  us  nearer  home,  and  the 
coach-wheels  whirl  round  apace  when  we  are 
upon   the   road ;    we  seldom  think  the  carriage 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  171 

goes  too  fast ;  we  are  pleased  to  pass  the  mile- 
stones :  1  call  new-year's  day,  or  my  birth-day,  a 
mile-stone. 

I  have  now  almost  reached  my  seventy-third 
yearly  mile-stone ;  what  dangers  have  I  escaped 
or  been  brought  through  !  If  my  heart  would 
jump  to  be  within  three  miles  of  you,  why  does 
it  not  jump  from  morning  till  night,  to  think  that 
1  am  probably  within  three  years  of  seeing  the 
Lamb  upon  the  throne,  and  joining  in  the  praises 
of  the  blessed  spirits  of  the  redeemed,  who  behold 
him  without  a  veil  or  a  cloud,  and  are  filled  wdth 
his  glory  and  love  ! — John  J^ewton, 

THE  GOOD  MAN'S  CONSOLATION. 
How  numerous  and  how  powerful  are  the  con- 
solations of  a  good  man  in  the  season  of  adversity ! 
External  reverses  cannot  rob  him  of  that  internal 
peace  which  he  enjoys.  From  a  state  of  opu- 
lence he  may  be. reduced  to  a  state  of  indigence, 
From  a  state  of  health  he  may  be  reduced  to  a 
state  of  bodily  distress.  His  children  may 
descend,  one  by  one,  before  him  into  the  tomb 
The  friends  of  his  bosom,  with  whom  he  had 
spent  many  a  happy  hour,  may  drop  around  him 


172  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

in  the  arms  of  death,  hke  the  withered  leaves  of 
a  tree  scattered  on  the  ground  by  the  aaturnnal 
blast.  He  himself  may  be  doomed  to  drag  out 
the  scanty  remains  of  a  worn-out  existence, 
bereft  of  comforts  which  he  once  enjoyed,  and 
burdened  with  the  infirmities  of  age.  Bat  has  he 
no  friend  left  to  speak  kindly  to  him  1  Has  he 
none  to  soothe  and  to  support  him  1  Yes  :  he 
has  One  above,  "that  sticketh  closer  than  a 
brother."  He  has  a  hving  Redeemer,  and  there- 
fore does  he  sing  in  the  seas{)n  of  adversity, 
*'  The  Lord  is  my  light  and  my  salvation ;  whom 
shall  I  fear  ?  The  Lord  is  the  strength  of  my 
life ;  of  whom  shall  I  be  afraid  1  Li  the  time 
of  trouble  he  shall  hide  me  in  his  pavihon  ;  in 
the  secret  of  his  tabernacle  shall  he  hide  me :  he 
shall  set  me  upon  a  rock." — M' Kerroiv. 

Christ  is  a  refiner's  fire.  We  would  like 
well  enough  to  come  and  w^arm  ourselves  at  this 
fire  ;  but  the  business  depends  upon  being  thrown 
into  it. — Adci?n. 

And  when  Abraham  was  ninety  years  old  and 
fline,  the  I^ord  appeared  to  Abraham,  and  said 


THE       EVENING      ^      LIFE.  173 

unto  him,  I  am  the  Ahnighty  God :  walk  before 
me,  and  be  thou  perfect. — Genesis  xvii.  1. 

A  THOUGHT  OF  THE  PAST. 
I  WOKE  from  slumber  at  the  dead  of  night, 

Stirred  by  a  dream  which  was  too  sweet  to  last — 
A  dream  of  boyhood's  season  of  delight ; 

It  flashed  along  the  dim  shapes  of  the  past ! 
And,  as  I  mused  upon  its  strange  appeal. 

Thrilling  my  heart  with  feelings  undefined, 
Old  memories,  bursting  from  Time's  icy  seal, 

Hushed,  like  sun-stricken  fountains,  on  my  mind 
Scenes,  among  which  was  cast  my  early  home. 

My  favorite  haunts,  the  shores,  the  ancient  woods, 
Where,  with  my  schoolmates,  I  was  wont  to  roam, 

Green,  sloping  lawns,  majestic  solitudes — 
All  rose  to  view,  more  lovely  than  of  yore; 

They  faded — and  I  wept — a  child  indeed  once  more ! 

Sargent 

SUBMISSION   TO  THE    WILL   OF    GOD. 

O  WHAT  wisdom  is  it  to  believe  and  not  to 
dispute ;  to  submit  our  thoughts  to  God's  court, 
and  not  to  repine  at  any  act  of  his  justice  !  It 
is  impossible  to  be  submissive,  if  we  stay  our 
thoughts  down  among  the  confused  rollings  and 
wheels  of  second  causes,  as — "  O  the  place  !     O 


174  THE       EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

the  time !  0  if  this  had  been,  this  had  not  fol- 
lowed !  O  the  linking  of  this  accident  with  this 
time  and  place  !" — Look  up  to  the  master  motion 
and  the  first  wheel ;  see  and  read  the  decree  of 
heaven  and  the  Creator  of  men.  "How  un- 
searchable are  his  judgments,  and  his  ways  past 
finding  out ! " — Rutherford, 

COMFORT    IN   AFFLICTION. 

Even  when  a  believer  sees  no  light,  he  may 
feel  some  hope ;  when  he  cannot  close  with  a 
promise,  he  may  lay  hold  on  an  attribute,  and 
say :  Though  both  my  flesh  and  my  heart  fail, 
yet  divine  faithfulness  and  divine  compassion  fail 
not.  Though  1  can  hardly  discern  at  present 
either  sun,  moon,  or  stars,  yet  will  I  cast  anchor 
in  the  dark,  and  ride  it  out,  until  the  day  break 
and  the  shadows  flee  away. — Arroivsmith. 

Believer,  go  on  ;  your  last  step  will  be  on 
the  head  of  the  old  serpent ;  but  crush  it,  and 
spring  from  it  into  glory. — Mason. 

God  hangs  the  greatest  weights  upon  the 
smallest  wires. — Bacon, 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  176 

CALM,  PEACE,  AND   LIGHT. 
There  is  a  Calm  the  poor  in  spirit  know, 
That  softens  sorrow  and  that  sweetens  woe ; 
There  is  a  Peace  that  dwells  within  the  breast, 
When  all  without  is  stormy  and  distressed ; 
There  is  a  Light  that  gilds  the  darkest  hour, 
When  dangers  thicken,  and  when  tempests  lower. 
That  Calm  to  faith,  and  love,  and  hope  is  given — 
That  Peace  remains  when  all  beside  is  riven — 
That  Liofht  shines  down  to  man  direct  from  heaven  I 

FOOTSTEPS   OF  ANGELS. 

When  the  hours  of  day  are  numbered, 

And  the  voices  of  the  night 
Wake  the  better  soul  that  slumbered, 

To  a  holy,  calm  dehght : 

Ere  the  evening  lamps  are  lighted, 

And,  like  phantoms  grim  and  tall, 
Shadows  from  the  fitful  firelight 

Dance  upon  the  parlor  wall ; 

Then  the  forms  of  the  departed 

Enter  at  the  open  door. 
The  beloved  ones,  the  true-hearted, 

Come  to  visit  me  once  more ; 

He,  the  young  and  strong,  who  cherished 
Noble  longings  for  the  strife, 


176  THE      EVENING      OF      LIPiS. 

Bj  the  road-side  fell  and  perished, 
Weary  with  the  march  of  life  ! 

They,  the  holy  ones  and  weakly, 

Who  the  cross  of  suffering  bore, 
Folded  their  pale  hands  so  meekly. 

Spoke  with  us  on  earth  no  more  . 

And  with  them  the  being  beauteous, 

Who  unto  my  youth  was  given, 
More  than  all  things  else  to  love  me, 

And  is  now  a  saint  in  heaven. 

With  a  slow  and  noiseless  footstep 

Comes  that  messenger  divine. 
Takes  the  vacant  chair  beside  me, 

Lays  her  gentle  hand  in  mine. 

And  she  sits  and  gazes  at  me 

With  those  deep  and  tender  eyes. 

Like  the  stars,  so  still  and  saintlike. 
Looking  downward  from  the  skies 

Uttered  not,  yet  comprehended, 

Is  the  spirit's  voiceless  prayer, 
Soft  rebukes  in  blessings  ended. 

Breathing  from  her  lips  of  air. 

Oh  !  though  oft  depressed  and  lonely, 

All  my  fears  are  laid  aside. 
If  I  but  remember  only 
,  Such  as  these  have  lived  and  died. —  Longfellow, 

\ 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  3  77 

It  is  one  of  the  melancholy  pleasures  of  an  old 
man  to  recollect  the  kindness  of  friends,  whose 
kindness  he  shall  experience  no  more. — Dr. 
Johnson. 

THE  HAPPY  OLD  MAN. 
One  stormy  winter  day,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Young, 
of  Jedburgh,  was  visiting  one  of  his  people,  an  old 
man,  who  lived  in  great  poverty  in  a  lonely 
cottage.  He  found  him  sitting  with  the  Bible 
open  on  his  knees,  but  in  outward  circumstances 
of  great  discomfort — the  snow  drifting  through 
the  roof,  and  under  the  door,  and  scarce  any  fire 
on  the  hearth.  "  What  are  you  about  to-day, 
John?"  was  his  question  on  entering.  "Ah,  sir," 
said  the  happy  saint,  "  Im  sitting  under  His 
shadow  with  great  delight!" — Christian  Treasu- 
ry. 

THE  CHRISTIAN'S   GRAVE. 
When  by  a  good  man's  grave  I  muse  alone, 
Methinks  an  angel  sits  upon  the  stone. 
Like  those  of  old,  on  that  thrice  hallowed  night, 
Who  sate  and  watched  in  raiment  heavenly  bright ; 
And,  with  a  voice  inspiring  joy,  not  fear, 
Says,  pointing  upward,  that  he  is  not  here, 
That  he  is  risen. — Rogers. 

9 


J  78  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

We  may  sing  even  in  our  winter  storm,  in  the 
expectation  of  a  summer  sun  at  the  turn  of  the 
year. — Rutlierford, 

FRIENDS  IN  HEAVEN. 
The  expectation  of  loving  my  friends  in 
heaven,  principally  kindles  my  love  to  them  on 
earth.  If  I  thought  I  should  never  know  them, 
and  consequently  never  love  them,  after  this  life 
is  ended,  I  should  number  them  with  temporal 
things,  and  only  love  them  as  such.  But  I  now 
delightfully  converse  with  my  godly  friends,  in  a 
firm  persuasion  that  I  shall  converse  with  them 
for  ever;  and  I  take  comfort  in  those  that  are 
dead  or  absent,  as  believing  I  shall  shortly  meet 
them  in  heaven ;  and  I  love  them  with  an 
heavenly  love,  as  the  heirs  of  heaven,  even  with 
a  love  that  shall  there  be  perfected,  and  for  ever 
exercised. — Baxter, 

God  hath  many  sharp-cutting  instruments  and 
rough  files  for  the  polishing  of  his  jewels;  and 
those  he  especially  esteem^,  and  means  to  make 
the  most  resplendent,  he  hath  oftenest  his  tools 
upon. — Leighton 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  179 

AFFLICTION   SANCTIFIED. 

Methinks  if  ye  would  know 
How  visitations  of  calamity 
Affect  the  pious  soul,  'tis  shown  you  here : 
Look  yonder  at  that  cloud,  which,  through  the  sky 
Saihng  along,  doth  cross  in  her  career 
The  rolHng  moon.     I  watched  it  as  it  came. 
And  deemed  the  deep  opaque  would  blot  her  beams ; 
But  melting  like  a  wreath  of  snow,  it  hangs 
In  folds  of  wavy  silver  round,  and  clothes 
The  orb  with  richer  beauties  than  her  own ; 
Then  passing,  leaves  her  in  her  light  serene. — Southey. 

The  journey  through  Hfe  is  as  Peter's  walking 
on  the  water;  and  if  Christ  does  not  reach  out 
his  hand,  we  are  every  moment  in  danger  of 
sinking. — Ada?n. 

THE  WORLDLING  AND  THE  CHRISTIAN. 
A  GENTLEMAN  ouce  took  a  friend  to  the  roof 
of  his  house,  to  show  him  the  extent  of  his 
possessions.  Waving  his  hand  about,  "  There," 
said  he,  "  is  my  estate."  Pointing  to  a  great 
distance  on  one  side,  "  Do  you  see  that  farm  1 
Well,  that  is  mine."  Pointing  again  to  the  other 
side,    "  Do    you    see   that    house  1       That   also 


180  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

belongs  to  me."  In  turn,  his  friend  asked,  "  Do 
you  see  that  little  village  out  yonder?  Well, 
there  Uves  a  poor  woman  within  that  village  who 
can  say  more  than  all  this."  "  Ah  !  what  can 
she  say  V  "  Why,  she  can  say,  Christ  is 
MINE  !"    Indeed  she  was  the  richer  of  the  two. 


THE  LAST  DAYS   OF  DR.  WATTS  AND  MR. 
HERVEY. 

When  Dr.  Watts  was  almost  worn  out  and 
broken  down  by  his  infirmities,  he  observed,  in 
conversation  with  a  friend :  "  I  remember  an 
aged  minister  to  say,  that  the  most  learned  and 
knowing  Christians,  when  they  come  to  die,  have 
only  the  same  plain  promises  of  the  gospel  for 
their  support  as  the  common  and  unlearned  ;  and 
so,"  said  he,  "  I  find  it.  It  is  the  plain  promises 
of  the  gospel  that  are  my  support ;  and  I  bless 
God  they  are  plain  promises,  that  do  not  require 
much  labor  and  pains  to  understand  them  ;  for  I 
can  do  nothing  now  but  look  into  my  Bible  for 
some  promise  to  support  me ;  I  live  upon  that." 

This  was  likewise  the  case  with  the  pious  and 
excellent  Mr.  Hervey,  He  writes,  about  two 
months  before  his  death,  '  I  now  spend  almost 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  ISl 

my  whole  time  in  reading  and  praying  over  the 
Bible."  And  again,  to  another  friend,  near  the 
same  time  :  "  I  am  now  reduced  to  a  state  of 
infant  weakness,  and  given  over  by  my  physician. 
My  grand  consolation  is  to  meditate  on  Christ ; 
and  I  am  hourly  repeating  those  heart-reviving 
lines  of  Dr.  Young  : — 

This — only  this — subdues  the  fear  of  death. 
And  what  is  this?     Survey  the  wondrous  cure, 
And  at  each  step  let  higher  wonder  rise  ! 
Pardon  for  infinite  offence !     And  pardon 
Through  means  that  speak  its  value  infinite  ! 
A  pardon  bought  with  blood !     With  blood  divine, 
With  blood  divine  of  Him  I  made  my  foe  ! 
Persisted  to  provoke  1     Though  woo'd  and  awed, 
Bless'd  and  chastis'd,  a  flagrant  rebel  still ! 
A  rebel  'midst  the  thunders  of  his  throne. 
Nor  I  alone  !     A  rebel  universe  ! 
My  species  up  in  arras  !     Not  one  exempt ! 
Yet  for  the  foulest  of  the  foul  He  dies ! 
Most  joy'd  for  the  redeem'd  from  deepest  gulf ! 
As  if  our  race  were  held  of  highest  rank. 
And  Godhead  dearer,  as  more  kind  to  man. 

I  TRIED  to  make  crooked  things  straight,  till  I 
have  made  these  knuckles  sore,  and  now  I  must 
leave  it  to  the  I^ord. — John  Neicton, 


J.82  THE       EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

THE   CHRISTIAN'S    PROSPECT. 

As  when  the  weary  traveller  gains 
The  height  of  some  o'erlooking  hill, 

His  heart  revives,  if  'cross  the  plains 
He  eyes  his  home,  though  distant  still. 
A  traveller,  after  a  long  journey,  when  he  is 
weary  and  faint,  and  sits  down,  if  he  see  the  town 
before  him,  it  puts  life  into  him,  and  he  plucks 
up  his  feet,  and  resolves  not  to  be  weary  till  he 
be  at  his  journey's  end.  O  look  at  the  crown 
and  white  robe  set  before  you,  and  faint  if  you 
can  ;  get  on  the  top  of  Mount  Nebo — look  on 
the  land  of  promise — those  good  things  set  before 
you :  taste  the  grapes  of  Canaan  before  you 
come  to  Canaan. — Nalton, 

If  an  angel  were  sent  to  find  the  most  perfect 
man,  he  would  probably  not  find  him  composing 
a  body  of  divinity,  but  perhaps*  a  cripple  in  the 
poor-house,  whom  the  parish  wish  dead,  but 
humbled  before  God  by  far  lower  thoughts  of 
himself  than  others  think  of  him. — John  Neivton. 

Live  not  upon  the  comforts  of  God,  but  upon 
the  God  of  comforts. — Mason. 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  183 

JESUS    LIVES. 
At   death,  earthly   friendships   are    dissolved; 
with  the  friend  our  comforts  die,  and  the  satis- 
faction we  enjoyed  in  their  society  leaves  only  a 
painful  remembrance  of  the  pleasures  we  have 
lost.     But  Jesus  hves  for  ever  !  Uves  to  make 
intercession  for  his  friends  above;  to  communi- 
cate constant  supplies  of  grace  to  them  below  ; 
to  guide  them   through  all  the  scenes  of  mortal 
life ;  to  crown  them  with   victory  over  the  last 
enemy  ;  and  to  bring  them  safe  to  his  glorious 
presence  to   live  with  him  for  ever   and  ever! 
Happy,  happy  souls  !  who   have   an  interest  in 
this  all-sufficient,  this  everlasting  Friend !     Bless- 
ed Jesus!  teach  me  to  know  thee  and  to  love 
thee  more ;  let  me  hear  the  voice  of  thy  sacred 
Spirit  whispering  to  my  heart  that  thou  art  mine ; 
assure   me  of  my  interest  in   thy  almighty,  thy 
unchangeable  love  !  then  I  shall  be  blest  indeed 
—Mrs.  Steele. 

AM  I  A  CHRISTIAN?         ^^ 

"Examine  yourselves  whether  ye  be  in  the 
faith,"  says  an  inspired  apostle.  This  duty,  so 
important  for  all  the  professed  disciples  of  Christ, 


184  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

is  specially  so  for  such  of  them  as  are  advanced 
in  years.  A  few  more  days,  and  the  validity  of 
their  hopes  for  eternity  must  be  tested  in  the 
immediate  presence  of  the  Searcher  of  hearts. 
Before  him  must  they  soon  appear, — the  Ancient 
of  Days — ^whose  "  eyes  are  as  a  flame  of  fire," 
and  whose  decisions  will  be  infallible  and  final. 

These  thoughts,  says  an  aged  professor,  have 
often  occupied  my  mind,  while  contemplating 
my  swift  approach  to  eternity,  and  again  and 
again  have  I  asked  myself.  Am  I  Christ's,  or  am 
I  not  1  Soon  I  must  go  hence, — am  I  prepared 
to  depart  in  peace  ? 

With  all  affection,  aged  friend,  we  come  to 
proflfer  our  aid  in  this  solemn  examination. 
Let  us  confer  together  upon  this  all-important 
matter. 

You  have  professed  to  be  a  child  of  God,  and 
an  heir  of  glory, — are  you  such,  in  truth  1 

The  Scriptures  affirm,  that  except  a  man  be 
born  again,  he  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  God, 
and  that  he  who  believeth  in  Jesus  shall  be 
saved.  i{  you,  dear  friend,  have  experienced 
that  regeneration,  and  exercised  that  faith,  they 
will  have  made  that  deep  impression  upon  your 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  185 

heart,  and   character,  and   Hfe,  which  will  itself 
be  a  satisfactory  witness.     They  are  God's  own 
work,  and  they  bring  with  them  their  own  testi- 
mony.    The  changes  they  effect  are  radical  and 
permanent  and  holy.     Permit  us  to  inquire,  then, 
Have  you  ever  observed  any  essential  change  in 
your  views  and  feelings   upon  the  great  themes 
of  religion,  or  are   they  substantially  the  same 
that  they  ever  were  ?     Without  asking  you  to 
refer  to  any  particular  day,  or  hour,  or  spot,  we 
would  ask.  Were  you  ever  disturbed  by  a  sense 
of  personal    sinfulness    and    guilt,    and   of  lying 
under  the  curse  of  God  ?     Were  you  ever  con- 
scious of  heartfelt  sorrow,  and  of  a  feeling  of 
deserved  condemnation,  for  having  sinned  against 
a  holy,  good,  and  sovereign  God  1     Did  you  ever 
commit  your  soul  into  the  hands  of  Jesus,  to  be 
washed  in  his  blood,  and  justified   freely  by  his 
righteousness  1     Has  a  change  been  experienced 
so  great,  that  you  can  say.  Whereas  I  was  blind, 
now  I  see — dead,  but  now  I  Hve  1     May  it  be 
compared    to   a   new   birth,  a  new   creation    in 
Christ?     Can  you  ascribe  it  to  a  power  no  less 
than  that  of  God  1 

And  what  have  been   its  fruits  ?      Have  you 
9* 


186  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

discovered  in  jour  heart  a  love  to  God  and 
holiness,  to  which  it  was  once  a  stranger? — a 
new  \o^  e  to  the  word  of  truth,  to  secret  prayer, 
the  communion  of  the  saints,  the  worship  of  tlie 
sanctuary,  and  the  precepts  of  Jesus  Christ  ? 
Have  the  inward  workings  of  sin  occasioned 
deep  contrition  and  self-loathing  ]  and  has  like- 
ness to  Christ  appeared  in  your  eyes  the  most 
desirable  of  all  things  1  Have  you  been 
accustomed  to  pray  for  the  Holy  Spirit  to  sancti- 
fy you  wholly  l  Have  you  hungered  and  thirsted 
after  righteousness  1  Have  you  mourned  because 
your  love  to  Christ  and  heavenly  things  was  no 
more  ardent  ?  Have  you  felt  a  new  love  to  all 
mankind,  a  spirit  of  forgiveness  under  injuries, 
and  a  pecuHar  affection  for  the  disciples  of 
Christ  ? 

When  tried,  disappointed,  bereaved,  has  your 
heart  quietly  submitted  to  the  divine  wall,  or  if 
murmurs  against  providence  then  arose,  have 
godly  sorrow  succeeded,  and  earnest  prayer  for  a 
spirit  of  patient  waiting  upon  God  ?  Have  you 
known  the  sweetness  of  resting  upon  the  !  ord 
and  trusting  his  promises  1  Have  the  thoughts 
of  heaven  cheered  your  pilgrimage  ?     Has  God 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  187 

at  times  appeared  eminently  glorious?  the 
Saviour  superlatively  precious,  and  worthy  of  all 
acceptation  1  Has  your  whole  experience  led  to 
a  growing  confidence  in  God's  wisdom  and  love  "^ 
Has  it  led  to  a  deeper  conviction  of  the  exceeding 
sinfulness  of  your  nature,  of  the  deceitf illness  of 
your  heart,  and  of  your  constant  dependence  on 
the  grace  of  God  1  Has  it  given  double  assurance 
to  your  belief  in  the  alone  possibility  of  salvation 
through  the  atoning  sacrifice  of  the  Son  of  God  1 
And  in  contemplating  your  attainments  in  piety, 
do  you  say  from  the  heart,  By  the  grace  of  God 
I  am  what  I  am,  and  if  I  am  ever  saved,  I 
shall  be  a  sinner  saved  by  grace. 

If,  aged  friend,  you  can,  with  humble  grati- 
tude to  God,  give  an  affirmative  answer  to  these 
inquiries,  we  encourage  you  to  believe  that  you 
are  a  disciple  of  Christ,  ind  that  he  will  own  you 
as  such  in  the  great  day.  Yes,  he  who  has 
begun  a  good  work  in  you,  will  carry  it  on  until 
the  day  of  Jesus  Christ.  He  will  not  forsake 
your  grey  hairs.  He  will  guide  you  by  his 
counsel,  and  afterwards  receive  you  to  glory. 
With  an  aged  saint  now  at  rest,  you  may  say, 
There  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of  righteousness, 


188  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

which  the  Lord,  the  righteous  Judge,  will  give 
uie.  May  the  Lord  grant  you  the  full  assurance 
of  hope  unto  the  end. 

But  here  is  another  aged  pilgrim  who  speaks 
a  different  language.  His  feelings  are  those  of 
mingled  confidence  and  distrust.  He  hopes  and 
fears,  rejoices  and  desponds  by  turns.  He  is  so 
painfully  conscious  of  siu  and  huperfection  in  all 
his  feehngs  and  services,  that  self-examination 
rather  perplexes  and  discourages,  than  assures 
and  comforts  him.  Oh,  aged  friend,  thus  writing 
bitter  things  against  yourself,  and  almost  ready  to 
exclude  yourself  from  any  part  in  Christ's  redeem- 
ing work,  we  would  fain  address  to  you  a  word 
of  consolation.  Be  assured  that  there  may  be 
discerned  in  your  exercises  clear  traces  of  the 
operation  of  divine  grace.  This  tender  con- 
science, this  trembling  solicitude,  reveal,  even 
amid  the  mists  of  unbelief,  a  heart  that  has 
mourned  for  sin,  and  that  longs  for  freedom  from 
its  chains.  The  mere  worldling  is  not  conscious 
of  such  emotions.  And  yet  you  should  deplore 
your  deficiency  of  faith.  Here  probably  Hes  the 
secret  of  your  fears.  You  look  too  exclusively  at 
your  sinful  heart,  and  forget  the  blessed,  all-sufiti- 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  189 

cient  Saviour.  It  is  from  him  that  peace  mast 
come — from  his  wounds,  his  groans,  his  obedi- 
ence, his  death,  his  intercession.  Behold  him  as 
having  borne  the  burden  of  jour  guilt,  and  let 
jour  soul  find  rest.  Consider  that  he,  as  jour 
substitute  and  suretj,  has  effected  and  guaranteed 
jour  salvation.  To  make  the  number  and 
greatness  of  jour  sins  a  reason  for  despair,  is  to 
limit  the  infinite  fulness  of  his  merits.  He  can 
save  unto  the  uttermost.  Bj  believing,  jou 
glorifj  the  Son  of  God.  He  invites  jou.  to 
believe.  You  are  authorized,  trembling  one,  on 
the  word  of  God  himself,  to  cast  jourself  as  jou 
are,  immediatelj  and  whollj,  upon  the  atonement 
of  Christ,  and  to  rejoice  in  hope  of  glorj. 

But  oh,  if  these  pages  should  meet  the  eye  of 
one  aged  reader,  to  whom  all  that  we  have  said 
is  but  a  strange  language,  we  would  with  all 
tenderness  and  plainness  saj  to  jou,  Dear  friend, 
it  is  high  time  jou  had  made  jour  peace  with 
God.  Time  presses  on,  death  will  soon  be  at 
the  loor,  jour  hoarj  head  and  trembling  steps 
are  warnings  not  to  be  mistaken  that  jour 
account  must  soon  be  rendered.  Are  jou 
prepared  to  meet  God  in  judgment  ?     Have  jou 


190  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

good  reason  to  believe  that  your  sIds  are  forgiven 
through  the  merits  of  Christ,  so  that  death  would 
be  gain?      /las,  if  you  hope  to    enter  heaven 
except  through  Him  vs^ho   is  the   "  w^ay,"    your 
hope'  will  fail.     And  if  you  are  trusting  in  him 
without  having  mourned  for  sin,  without  having 
felt  that  you  were  lost  unless  he  should  pardon 
and   accept  you,  your  trust  will  prove  delusive. 
It  is  the  penitent,  broken-hearted  sinner,  to  whom 
Jesus  says,  Thy  sins  are  forgiven  thee.     Such  he 
invites  to  come  to  him,  even  at  the  eleventh  hour. 
Such  he  will  in  no  wise  cast  out.     His  merits  are 
infinite.     He  can  save  unto  the  uttermost.     His 
blood  cleanseth  from  all  sin.     Oh,  aged  traveller, 
your  sun  soon  will   set.      Shall  it  go  down  in 
gloom  I     Shall  your  feet  stumble  upon  the  dark 
mountains  ?       Think   of  your    long    hfe,  of  its 
numberless  mercies  from  helpless  infancy  to  old 
age.     These  were   all   God's  gifts.      Have  they 
been   thankfully  received  1      Have  they  led  you 
to  repentance  1     Sad  account !     A  whole  life  of 
sin   to   answer  for!      God  forgotten,  the  world 
loved,    self    regarded,    Christ    rejected  !       Aged 
sinner !  your  life  may  have  been  stained  with  no 
crime,  but  to  forget  God,  to  disobey  God;  this  is 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  191 

a  criminal  offence  in  the  sight  of  heaven. 
Quickly  repent.  To-daj  harden  not  jour  heart. 
Now  is  the  day  of  salvation.  To-morrow  may 
be  too  late. 


LETTER  TO   AN  AGED  PERSON. 
[to  an  aged  friend.] 

Much  honored  sir : — Grace,  mercy,  and  peace 
be  to  you.  I  beseech  you,  sir,  by  the  salvation 
of  your  precious  soul,  and  the  mercies  of  God, 
make  good  and  sure  work  of  your  salvation,  and 
try  upon  what  ground-stone  you  have  builded. 
Worthy  and  dear  sir,  if  ye  be  upon  sinking  sand, 
a  storm  of  death  and  a  blast  will  loose  Christ  and 
you,  and  wash  you  off  the  rock !  O  for  the 
T^ord's  sake,  look  narrowly  to  the  work.  Read 
over  your  Hfe  with  the  light  of  God's  daylight 
and  sun.  It  is  good  to  look  to  your  compass, 
and  all  you  have  need  of,  ere  you  take  shipping ; 
for  no  wind  can  blow  you  back  again.  Remem- 
ber, when  the  race  is  ended,  and  the  flag  either 
won  or  lost,  and  you  are  in  the  utmost  circle  and 
l)ordei  of  time,  and  put  your  foot  within  the 
march  of  eternity,  all   your  good   things  of  this 


192  THE      EVENING      OF     LIFE. 

short  night-dream  shall  seem  to  you  like  the 
ashes  of  a  blaze  of  thorns  or  straw,  and  jour 
poor  soul  shall  be  crying,  Lodging,  lodging,  for 
God's  sake  !  Then  shall  your  soul  be  more  glad 
at  one  of  your  Lord's  lovely  smiles,  than  if  you 
had  the  charters  of  three  worlds  for  all  eternity. 
Let  pleasures  and  gain,  will  and  desires  of  this 
world,  be  put  over  m  God's  hands,  as  arrested 
goods,  that  you  cannot  claim.  Now  when  you 
are  drinking  the  grounds  of  your  cup,  and  are 
upon  the  utmost  ends  of  the  last  link  of  time, 
and  old  age,  like  death's  long  shadow,  is  casting 
a  covering  upon  your  days,  it  is  no  time  to  court 
this  vain  life,  and  to  set  love  and  heart  upon  it : 
it  is  near  after  supper ;  seek  rest  and  ease  for 
your  soul,  in  God  through  Christ  Come  in, 
come  in  to  Christ,  and  see  what  you  want,  and 
find  it  ill  him :  he  is  the  short  cut,  as  we  used  to 
say,  and  the  nearest  way  to  an  out-gate  of  all 
your  burdens.  I  dare  avouch,  you  shall  be 
dearly  welcome  to  him.  Angels'  pens,  angels" 
tongues,  nay,  as  many  worlds  of  angels  as  there 
are  drops  of  water  in  all  the  seas  and  fountains 
and  rivers  of  the  earth,  cannot  paint  him  out  to 
you.     I  think  his  sweetness,  since  I  was  a  pn- 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  193 

soner,  has  swelled  upon  me  to  the  greatness  of 
two  heavens.  O  for  a  soul  as  wide  as  the 
utmost  circle  of  the  highest  heaven  that  contain- 
eth  all,  to  contain  his  love  ! — Rutherford, 


THE   EXPERIENCE  OF  JOHN   NEWTON. 

You  kindly  inquire  after  my  health  :  myself 
and  family  are,  through  the  divine  favor,  perfectly 
well ;  yet,  healthy  as  1  am,  I  labor  under  a 
growing  disorder,  for  which  there  is  no  cure ;  I 
mean  old  age.  I  am  not  sorry  it  is  a  mortal  dis- 
ease, from  which  no  one  recovers :  for  who 
would  Uve  always  in  such  a  world  as  this,  who 
has  a  Scriptural  hope  of  an  inheritance  in  the 
world  of  light  1  I  am  now  in  my  seventy-second 
year,  and  seem  to  have  lived  long  enough  for 
myself  I  have  known  something  of  the  evil  of 
life,  and  have  had  a  large  share  of  the  good.  1 
know  what  the  world  can  do,  and  what  it  cannot 
do  ;  it  can  neither  give  nor  take  away  that  peace 
of  God  tvhich  passeth  all  understanding ;  it  can- 
not soothe  a  w^ounded  conscience,  nor  enable  us 
to  meet  death  with  comfort.  .  .  .  The  Gospel 
IS  a  catholicon   adapted  to  all  our  wants  and  all 


194  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

our   feeilings,   and    a    suitable    help   when   even 
other  fails. — John  Newton. 

He  who  sends  the  storm  steers  the  vessel. — 
Adain. 

Know  ye  are  as  near  heaven  as  ye  are  far 
from  yourself,  and  far  from  the  love  of  a  bewitch- 
ing wox\A,— Rutherford, 

Faith  is  the  better  of  the  free  air,  and  of  the 
sharp  winter  storm  in  its  face. — Rutherford. 

THE   TREMBLING    CHRISTIAN. 

It  is  the  duty  of  good  people  to  labor  after  a 
holy  security  and  serenity  of  mind,  and  to  use  the 
means  appointed  for  the  obtaining  it.  Give  not 
way  to  the  disquieting  suggestions  of  Satan,  and 
to  those  tormenting  doubts  and  fears  that  arise  in 
your  own  souls.  Study  to  be  quiet,  chide  your- 
self for  your  distrusts,  charge  yourselves  to  believe 
and  to  hope  in  God,  that  you  may  yet  praise 
him.  You  are  in  the  dark  concerning  your- 
selves ;  do  as  Paul's  mariners  did,  cast  anchor 
and  wish  for  the  day. 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  195 

Poor,  trembling  Christian  !  thou  art  tossed 
with  tempests,  and  not  comforted  ;  try  to  lay 
thee  down  in  peace  and  sleep  ;  compose  thyself 
into  a  sedate  and  even  frame.  In  the  name  of 
Him  whom  winds  and  seas  obey,  command  down 
thy  tumultuous  thoughts,  and  say,  "  Peace,  be 
still."  Lay  that  aching,  trembhng  head  of  thine 
where  the  beloved  disciple  laid  his,  in  the  bosom 
of  the  Lord  Jesus;  or,  if  thou  hast  not  yet 
attained  such  boldness  of  access  to  him,  lay  that 
aching,  trembhng  head  of  thine  at  the  feet  of  the 
Lord  Jesus,  by  an  entire  submission  to  him,  say- 
mg,  "  If  I  perish,  T  will  perish  here  :"  put  it  into 
his  hand  by  an  entire  confidence  in  him  ;  submit 
it  to  his  disposal,  who  knows  how  to  speak  to 
the  heart.  And  if  thou  art  not  yet  entered  into 
this  present  rest  that  remaineth  for  the  people  of 
God,  yet  look  upon  it  t«>  be  a  land  of  promise, 
and,  therefore,  though  it  tarry,  wait  for  it,  for  the 
vision  is  for  an  appointed  time,  and  at  the  end  it 
shall  speak  and  shall  not  lie.  "  Light  is  sown 
for  the  righteous,"  and  what  is  sown  shall  come 
up  again  at  last  in  harvest  of  joy. — M.  Henry, 


196  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

The  Aged   Minister. — "  Well,  father ,' 

was  once  said  to  a  servant  of  Christ  when  past 
fourscore  years,  "  on  the  whole,  do  you  think  you 
shall  go  to  heaven  when  you  die  f — His  instant 
reply  was,  "  Why,  \^  here  else  should  I  go  ?"  as  if 
the  question  surprised  liiin.  So  in  harmony  was 
his  soul  with  God,  and  purity,  and  heaven,  that 
he  seemed  instinctively  to  look  upward  for  his 
eternal  home. 

THE    AGED    BELIEVER'S    EXPERIENCE  AND 
PROSPECTS. 

[from  a  letter  to  a  friend.] 

Let  it  not  be  long  before  you  inform  me  how 
you  and  all  your  family  are.  1  hope  the  young 
ones  grow  and  thrive  like  ohve  plants,  and  that 
the  elder  branches  of  the  family  are  planted  and 
planting  in  the  Lord's  vineyard,  and  promise  to 
be  trees  of  righteousness,  and  to  bear  fruit  in  their 
old  age. 

We  are  all  much  as  we  were,  when  we  last 
saw  you,  only  about  a  year  and  a  month  older : 
that  is,  so  much  the  nearer  to  that  gate  which 
death  will  ere  long  open  to  introduce  us  to  an 
eternal  state.      It  is  a  solemn   thought.      How 


THE       EVENING      OF      LIFE.  197 

new  and  untried  the  passage  !  How  inconceiv- 
able the  prospect  beyond  it !  Formerly  \  have 
supposed  that  if  I  Uved  beyond  the  age  of  sixty, 
the  nearness  and  importance  of  that  ihange 
which  I  might  then  reasonably  expect  could  not 
be  far  off,  would  be  continually  upon  my  mind. 
But  now  that  I  am  near  sixty-three,  I  find  my- 
self httle  more  affected  by  it  than  I  was  thirty 
years  ago.  I  may  now  be  sure,  that  if  grace 
does  not  weaken  my  attachment  to  the  things  of 
time,  an  advance  in  years  will  not  do  it.  I  am 
an  inconsistent  creature,  and  should  be  condemn- 
ed out  of  my  own  mouth  by  what  I  preach  to 
others,  if  the  Lord  were  strict  to  mark  what  is 
amiss.  But  I  trust  I  am  not  under  the  law,  but 
under  grace.  He  knows  my  frame,  that  it  is 
altogether  shattered  and  defiled,  and  that  I  have 
no  plea  to  offer  in  my  own  behalf;  and  therefore 
he  has  mercifully  provided  one  for  me,  on  which 
my  soul  desires  wholly  to  rely.  T  have  sinned, 
but  Christ  has  died,  has  risen,  and  is  exaked  a 
Prince  and  a  Saviour,  and  upon  the  warrant  of 
his  own  word,  I  venture  my  all  upon  him.  I 
could  complain  much  of  myself,  but  you  cannot 
help   me;  therefore   I  forbear.     1   would   rather 


198  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

invite  jou  to  join  with  me  in  praise.  "  Come, 
magnify  the  Lord  with  me,  and  let  us  exalt  his 
holy  naQie  together."  He  found  us  when  we 
sought  him  not ;  then  we  began  to  seek  him,  and 
then  he  was  pleased  to  be  found  by  us.  He  has 
guided  us  by  his  eye,  guarded  us  by  the  way, 
restored  us  when  wandering,  revived  us  when 
fainting,  healed  us  when  wounded.  He  has 
known  our  souls  in  adversity,  helped  us  in  all 
our  difficulties,  comforted  and  supported  us 
under  all  our  sorrows.  If  we  look  around  us, 
how  are  we  distinguished  by  the  mercies  of  his 
providence;  our  wants  supphed,  our  wishes 
almost  prevented,  comforts  and  friends  on  every 
side,  and  the  green  pastures  of  his  ordinances 
near  and  frequent,  to  the  refreshment  of  our 
souls.  If  we  look  forward,  what  unspeakably 
greater  blessings  !  We  cannot  conceive  a  thou- 
sandth part  of  what  is  signified  by  the  white 
robes,  the  golden  harp,  the  balm  of  hfe,  the  rivers 
of  pleasure,  which  are  prepared  for  the  faithful 
followers  of  the  Lamb  !  Can  anything  enhance 
the  value  of  these  blessings  and  these  hopes,  or 
heighten  our  obligations  for  them  1  Yes,  the 
consideration  of  the  way  in  which  they  become 


THE      EVENING      OF       LIFE  199 

ours.     The  smallest  and  greatest  of  them  are  all 
the  price  of  blood. — John  Newton. 

THE  AGED  AND  THE  YOUNG  CHRISTIAN. 
The  old  Christian,  who  has  by  grace  reached 
a  somewhat  moro  elevated  ground  than  one 
beginning  the  spiritual  journey,  should  remember 
the  toils,  conflicts,  weakness,  darkness,  tempta- 
tions, and  so  forth,  that  made  him  groan  and 
oftentimes  ready  to  faint,  in  ascending  to  that 
point,  that  he  may  deal  tenderly  and  gently  with 
such  as  are  yet  laboring  over  the  same  ground. 
So  desirous  is  the  advanced  Christian  that  others 
may  have  the  same  joy,  that  he  is  apt  to  forget 
there  must  first  be  the  fight  and  the  race.  He 
calls  on  all  to  rejoice  as  he  does ;  to  be  dead  to 
the  world  as  he  is  ;  to  bathe  in  the  sweet  ocean 
of  redeeming  love,  and  to  breathe  freely  in  the 
pure  element  of  holy  communion.  It  is  natural 
he  should  so  speak;  but  this  meat  should  be 
reserved  for  riper  years  ;  and  the  milk  of  younger 
experience  should  be  given  to  babes.  In  this 
thing  I  have  erred,  and  now  would  correct  my 
mistake  — Mrs,  Haivkes, 


200  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

THE  DEATfl   OF  A   FRIEND. 

0  FRIEND,  I  stood  beside  thee  at  thy  tomb, 
Filled  with  a  thousand  bleeding  memories ; 
Thine  image  rose  upon  my  thoughts,  and  filled 
My  spirit  with  sad  love.     I  thought,  dear  friend, 
That  in  the  strife  of  thy  long  suffering 

1  had  not  mourned  enough  for  one  so  loved. 
I  then,  wept  inly.     But  a  thought  returned. 
As  though  an  angel  clothed  in  shining  raiment 
Stood  by  the  opening  tomb,  and  said,  Weep  not, 
For  she  is  not  in  dust,  but  far  away, 

Even  with  the  deathless,  where  no  pain  can  come — 

Beyond  the  reach  of  sorrows.     Then  I  looked 

On  those  who  stood  with  solemn  aspect  round, 

And  knew  we  were  the  dead  in  sin,  not  thou ! 

Thou  art  not  of  the  dead  :  or  if  so  named, 

The  tomb  grows  holy  when  we  think  of  thee 

No  more  the  cavern  of  decay  from  which 

The  bosom  shrinks  appalled — but  holy — holy — 

The  sacred  portal  of  the  realm  beyond 

Where  they  who  follow  thee  are  found  with  God. 

Janies  Wills, 

The  Death  of  Christ. — Christ  by  his  death 
slew  for  us  our  infernal  foes ;  by  it  he  abolished 
death;  by  death  he  destroyed  him  that  had  the 
power  of  death  ;  by  death  he  took  away  the 
sting  of  death  ;  by  death  he  made  death  a  pleasant 


•J"  HE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  201 

sleep  to  saints,  and  the  grave  for  a  while  an  easy 
house  and  home  for  the  body. — Bunyan, 

I.ET  dissolution  come  when  it  will,  it  can  do 
the.  Christian  no  harm,  for  it  will  be  but  a  passage 
out  of  a  prison  into  a  palace :  out  of  a  sea  of 
troubles  into  a  haven  of  rest;  out  of  a  crowd  of 
enemies  to  an  innumerable  company  of  true, 
loving,  and  faithful  friends;  out  of  shame, 
reproach,  and  contempt,  into  exceeding  great  and 
eternal  glorj. — Bunyan. 

HAPPINESS   OF  HEAVEN. 

Only  to  be  permitted  to  contemplate  such  a 
being  as  Jehovah,  to  see  goodness,  holiness, 
justice,  mercy,  long-suffering  and  sovereignty 
personified  and  condensed  ;  to  see  them  united 
with  eternity,  infinite  power,  unerring  wisdom, 
omnipresence,  and  all-sufficiency;  to  see  all  these 
natural  and  moral  perfections  indissolubly  united 
and  blended  in  sweet  harmony  in  a  pure,  spiritual 
being,  and  that  being  placed  on  the  throne  of  the 
universe ;  I  say,  to  see  this,  would  be  happiness 
enough  to  fill  the  mind  of  any  creature  in 
existence.     But  in  addition  to  this,  to  have  this 

10 


202  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

ineffable  being  for  our  God,  our  portion,  our  all ; 
to  be  permitted  to  say.  This  God  is  our  God 
for  ever  and  ever ;  to  have  his  resplendent  coun- 
tenance smile  upon  us  ;  to  be  encircled  in  his 
everlasting  arms  of  power,  and  faithfulness,  and 
love ;  to  heat  his  voice  saying  to  us,  I  am  yours 
and  you  are  mine ;  nothing  shall  ever  pluck  you 
from  my  hands,  or  separate  you  from  my  love, 
but  you  shall  be  with  me  where  I  am,  behold  my 
glory,  and  live  to  reign  with  me  for  ever  and 
ever,  this  is  too  much ;  it  is  honor,  it  is  glory,  it 
is  happiness  too  overwhelming,  too  transporting  for 
mortal  minds  to  conceive,  or  for  mortal  frames  to 
support.  O  then,  in  all  circumstances,  under  all 
inward  and  outward  afflictions,  let  the  children 
of  Zion  be  joyful  in  their  king. 

You  have,  doubtless,  often  observed  that  when 
your  minds  have  been  intently  and  pleasingly 
occupied,  you  have  become  almost  unconscious 
of  the  flight  of  time  ;  minutes  and  hours  have 
flown  away  with  apparently  unusual  swiftness^ 
and  the  setting  or  rising  sun  has  surprised  ycu, 
long  before  you  expected  its  approach.  But  in 
heaven,  the  saints  will  be  entirely  lost  and 
swallowed  up  in  God  ;  and  their  minds  will  be  so 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  203 

completely  absorbed  in  the  contemplation  of  his 
ineffable,  infinite,  uncreated  glories,  that  they  will 
be  totally  unconscious  how  time,  or  gather,  how 
eternity  passes ;  and  not  only  years,  but  miUions 
of  ages,  such  as  we  ^call  ages,  will  be  flown  ere 
they  are  aware.  Thus,  a  thousand  years  will 
seem  to  them  but  as  one  day,  and  yet  so  great,  so 
ecstatic  will  be  their  happiness,  that  one  day  will 
be  as  a  thousand  years.  And  as  there  will  be 
nothing  to  interrupt  them,  no  bodily  wants  to 
call  off  their  attention,  no  weariness  to  compel 
them  to  rest,  no  vicissitude  of  seasons,  or  of  -day 
and  night,  to  disturb  their  contemplations :  it  is 
more  than  possible  that  innumerable  ages  may 
pass  away,  before  they  think  of  asking  how  long 
they  have  been  in  heaven,  or  even  before  they 
are  conscious  that  a  single  hour  has  elapsed. 

How  often.  Christians,  have  your  hearts  been 
made  to  burn  with  love,  and  gratitude,  and  admi- 
ration, and  joy,  whilst  Christ  has  opened  to  you 
the  scriptures,  and  caused  you  to  know  a  httle 
of  that  love  whicn  passeth  knowledge !  Ho-w 
often  has  one  transient  glimpse  of  the  light  of 
Gold's  countenance  turned  your  night  into  day, 
banished    your    sorrows,    supported    you    under 


204  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

heavy  afflictions,  and  caused  jou  to  rejoice  w^ith 
joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory  !  Oh,  then, 
what  must  it  be  to  escape  for  ever  from  error, 
ignorance,  and  darkness,  and  sin,  into  the  region 
of  bright,  unclouded,  eternal  day  ;  to  see  }our  God 
and  Redeemer  face  to  face  ;  continually  to  con- 
template, with  immortal  strength,  glories  so 
dazzUngly  bright,  that  one  moment's  view  of 
them  would  now,  like  a  stream  of  Hghtning,  turn 
your  frail  bodies  into  dust ;  to  see  the  eternal 
volume  of  the  divine  counsels,  the  mighty  map 
of  the  divine  mind,  unfolded  to  jour  eager, 
piercing  gaze  ;  to  explore  the  heights  and  depths, 
the  lengths  and  breadths  of  the  Redeemer's  love, 
and  still  to  see  new  wonders,  glories,  and 
beauties,  pouring  upon  your  minds,  in  constant, 
endless  succession,  calUng  forth  new  songs  of 
praise ; — songs  in  which  you  will  unite,  not,  as 
now,  with  mortal  companions  and  mortal  voices, 
but  with  the  innumerable  choir  of  angels,  with 
the  countless  myriads  of  the  redeemed,  all  shouting 
with  a  voice  hke  the  voice  of  many  waters,  Alle- 
luia, for  the  Lord  God  omnipotent  reigneth  ! — 
Payson. 


THE      EVENING       Ol-       LIFE.  205 

Those  visions  that  the  saved  in  heaven  shall 
have  of  the  love  of  Christ  will  far  transcend  our 
utmost  knov^ledge  here,  even  as  far  as  the  hght 
of  the  sun  at  noon  goes  beyond  the  light  of  a 
bUnking  candle  at  midnight. — Bunyan. 

WONDERS   OF   PROVIDENCE. 

I  HAVE  no  knowledge  to  take  up  the  Lord 

in   all  his  strange   ways   and   passages  of  deep 

and   unsearchable  providences:  for  the  Lord   is 

before  me,  and  I  am  so  bemisted,  that  I  cannot 

follow  him;    he  is  behind   me,   and   I   am   not 

aware  of  him  ;  he  is  above   me,  but  his  glory  so 

dazzles  my  twilight  of  knowledge,  that  I  cannot 

look  up  to  him ;  he  is  upon  my  right  hand,  and  I 

see  him  not ;  he  is  upon  my  left  hand,  and  within 

me,  and  goeth  and  cometh,  and  his  going  and 

coming  are  a  dream  to  me ;  he  is  round  about 

me,  and  compasseth  all   my  goings,  and   still   I 

have  him  to  seek.     He  is  every  way  higher,  and 

deeper,  and  broader,  than   the  shallow  and  ebb 

baud-bieadth  of  my  short  and  dim  light  can  take 

up;  and  therefore   I  would  my  heart  could  be 

silent,  and   sit   down   in   the    learnedly-ignorant 

wondering  at  that   Lord,  whom  men  and   angels 


206  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

cannot  comprehend.  I  know  the  highest  angels 
who  see  him  face  to  face,  see  not  the  borders  of 
his  infiniteness.  And  therefore  it  is  my  happi- 
ness to  look  afar  off,  and  to  hght  my  dark  caudle 
at  his  brightness,  and  to  have  leave  to  sit  and 
content  myself  with  a  traveller's  light,  without 
the  clear  vision  of  an  enjoyer. — Ruthei'ford. 

It  is  iiard  work  to  believe,  when  the  course 
of  providence  goeth  cross-ways  to  our  faith,  and 
when  misted  souls  in  a  dark  night  cannot  know 
east  by  west,  and  our  sea-compass  seemeth  to 
fail  us.  Every  man  is  a  behever  in  daylight :  a 
fair  day  seemeth  to  be  made  all  of  faith  and 
hop  e. — Rutherford. 

Persecutions  are  beneficial  to  the  righteous. 
They  are  a  hail  of  precious  stones,  which,  it  is 
true,  rob  the  vine  of  her  leaves,  but  give  her  pos- 
sessor a  more  precious  treasure  instead. — Gossner, 


/\w 


If  ever  I  reach  heaven,  I  expect  to  find  three 
onders  there  :  first,  to  meet  some  I  had  not 
thought  to  see  there ;  second,  to  meet  some 
whom  I  had  expected  to  miss  there ;  but  third, 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  207 

the  greatest  wonder  of  all  will  be,  to  find  myself 
there  ! — Dr.  Watts. 

YOUTH   AND   AGE. 

The  seas  are  quiet  when  the  winds  are  o^er ; — 
So  calm  are  we  when  passions  are  no  more  ! 
For  then  we  know  how  vain  it  was  to  boast 
Of  fleeting  things,  so  certain  to  be  lost. 

Clouds  of  afiection  from  our  younger  eyes 

Conceal  that  emptiness  which  age  descries ; 

The  soul's  dark  cottage,  battered  and  decayed, 

Lets  in  new  light  through  chinks  that  time  has  made. 

Stronger  by  weakness,  wiser,  men  become, 
As  they  draw  near  to  their  celestial  home ; 
Leaving  the  old,  both  worlds  at  once  they  view 
That  stand  upon  the  threshold  of  the  new. —  Waller, 

CHEERFULNESS. 

Cheerfulness  and  a  festival  spirit  fill  the  soul 
full  of  harmony  ;  it  composes  music  for  churches 
and  hearts ;  it  makes  and  publishes  glorifications 
of  God  ;  it  produces  thankfulness,  and  serves  the 
end  of  charity ;  and  when  the  oil  of  gladness 
runs  over,  it  makes  bright  and  tall  emissions  of 
light  and  holy  fires,  reaching  up  to  a  cloud,  and 


208  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

making  joy  round  about :  and,  therefore,  since  it 
is  so  innocent,  and  may  be  so  pious  and  full  of 
holy  advantage,  whatsoever  can  innocently  minis- 
ter to  this  holy  joy,  does  set  forw^ard  the  work  of 
religion  and  charity. — Jeremy  Taylor, 

PLEASURES  OF  SONG. 
I  LOVE  to  sing  when  I  am  glad, — 

Song  is  the  echo  of  my  gladness  : 
I  long  to  sing  when  I  am  sad. 

Till  song  makes  sweet  my  very  sadness : 
'Tis  pleasant  time  when  voices  chime 

To  some  sweet  rhyme  in  concert  only ; 
And  song  to  me  is  company. 

Good  company,  when  I  am  lonely. 

Whene'er  I  greet  the  morning  light, 

My  song  goes  forth  in  thankful  numbers  ; 
And,  'mid  the  shadows  of  the  night, 

I  sing  me  to  my  welcome  slumbers  : 
My  heart  is  stirred  by  each  glad  bird, 

Whose  notes  are  heard  in  summer's  bowem ; 
And  song  gives  birth  to  friendly  mirth, 

Around  the  hearth  in  wintry  hours. 

Man  first  learned  song  in  Paradise, 

From  the  bright  angels  o'er  him  singing ; 

And  in  our  home  above  the  skies. 
Glad  anthems  are  for  ever  ringing : 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  209 

God  lends  his  ear,  well  pleased  to  hear 

The  songs  that  cheer  his  children's  sorrow ; 

Till  day  shall  break,  and  we  shall  wake 
Where  love  will  make  unfading  morrow. 

Then  let  me  sing,  while  yet  I  may, 

Like  him  God  loved,  the  sweet-toned  Psalmist, 
Who  found  in  harp  and  holy  lay 

The  charm  that  keeps  the  spirit  calmest : 
For  sadly  here  I  need  the  cheer. 

While  sinful  fear  with  promise  bleudeth  ; 
Oh  !  how  I  long  to  join  the  throng, 

Who  sing  the  song  that  never  endeth  ! — Bethune. 

Beholding  God. — As,  to  a  man  who  looks 
for  a  long  time  at  the  sun,  the  sun  impresses 
itself  upon  everything ;  so  is  it  with  the  man 
who  looks  much  at  God. —  Tauler. 

SPIRITUAL  AFFECTIONS. 
Where  affections  are  spiritually  renewed,  the 
person  of  Christ  is  the  centre  of  them.  He  is  the 
spring,  by  his  Spirit,  that  gives  them  life,  light,  and 
being ;  and  he  is  the  ocean  that  receives  all  their 
streams.  God,  even  the  Father,  presents  not 
himself  in  his  beauty  and  amiableness  as  the 
object  of  our  affections  but  as  he  is  in  Christ, 

10^ 


210  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

acting  his  love  in  him.  And  as  to  all  othoi 
spiritual  things,  renewed  affections  cleave  to 
them  according  as  tliej  derive  from  Christ  and 
lead  to  him  ;  for  he  is  to  them  all  and  in  all.  It 
is  he  whom  the  souls  of  his  saints  love  for  him- 
self, for  his  ow^n  sake,  and  all  other  things  in 
religion  in  and  for  him. 

The  air  is  pleasant  and  useful,  that  without 
wdiicli  we  cannot  live  or  breathe  ;  but  if  the  sun 
did  not  enlighten  it,  and  warm  it  with  his  beams : 
if  it  were  always  one  perpetual  night  and  cold, 
what  refreshment  could'  be  received  by  it] 
Christ  is  the  sun  of  righteousness,  and  it  his 
beams  did  not  quicken,  animate,  and  enlighten 
the  best,  the  most  necessary  duties  of  religion, 
nothing  desirable  would  remain  in  them.  This 
IS  the  most  certain  character  of  affectrons 
spiritually  renewed.  They  can  rest  in  nothing 
but  in  Christ ;  they  fix  on  nothing  but  what  is 
amiable  by  a  participation  of  his  beauty ;  and  in 
whatever  he  is,  therein  they  find  complacency. — 
Dr.  Owen. 

Aged  Sinner. — If  we  see  a  man  in  his  old 
age  grow  more  in   love  with  the   things  of  this 


THE      EVENING      OF     LIFE.  211 

WO  I  Id,  and  less  in  love  with  the  things  of  Gcd,  it 
is  not  through  the  weakness  of  nature,  but  through 
the  strength  of  sin. — Vr.  Owen. 

THE  PROGRESS  OF  GRACE  IN  THE  SOUL. 
The  believer's  feelings  and  experience  in  the 
different  stages  of  the  divine  life  are  essentially 
and  necessarily  different.  There  is  a  dawning 
brightness,  a  vernal  glow  of  freshness  about  the 
early  days  of  grace,  which  must  pass  away,  and 
can  never  be  recalled  again.  This  is  not  to  be 
confounded  with  backshding  or  declension  in 
grace.  The  blade  of  spring,  indeed,  gradually 
loses  its  freshness,  and  its  verdant  loveUness 
passes  away ;  but  it  is  ripening,  not  withering ; 
and  lovely  as  the  budding  verdure  of  spring  is, 
the  mellow  glow  of  autumn  is  loveUer.  So  it  is 
with  ripening  as  compared  with  early  grace. 
Its  impressions  are  less  vivid,  but  they  are  more 
deep  and  abiding.  Its  feeUngs  are  less  ardent, 
but  they  are  calmer  and  holier.  Its  peace  may 
not  so  overflow,  but  it  ploughs  a  deeper  channel. 
It  is  not  so  exulting  and  sanguine,  but  it  is  more 
solemn,  more  chastened,  more  lowly.  There  is 
less  of  the  flesh,  more  of  the  spirit — less  excite- 


212  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

ment,  more  grace.  John,  when  now  la(}en 
with  years  and  labors  he  was  carried  into  the 
congregation,  and  could  only  look  round  and  smile, 
and  say,  "  Little  children,  love  one  another,"  must 
have  been  much  changed  in  feeling  from  what  he 
was,  when  in  the  fire  of  his  first  love,  he  obtained 
the  name  of  a  "son  of  thunder ;"  and  yet  he  was 
far  liker  Jesus,  and  far  nearer  glory.  Therefore, 
beloved,  be  not  cast  down.  Though  feelings 
change,  though  comforts  decline,  though  there  be 
ups  and  downs,  clouds  and  storms,  as  you  travel 
on,  still  be  of  good  courage,  and  hold  on  your 
way.  Rather  rejoice,  and  bless  the  Lord  that  he 
that  began  the  good  work  is  carrying  it  on, — that 
the  long  year  of  grace  is  gradually  running  its 
course ;  that  the  spring  is  already  over,  that  the 
summer  is  pressing  on,  and  that  amid  changing 
suns  and  showers,  storms  and  calms,  you  are 
ripening  for  the  eternal  harvest.  Only  seek  to 
be  holier,  daily  nearer  the  Lord,  daily  more  like 
Jesus,  and  then  all  is  well.  Soon  shall  time  give 
place  to  eternity.  Soon  shall  sin,  and  sorrow, 
and  change,  end  for  ever.  Soon  shall  the  day 
break,  and  the  shadows  flee  away. — May  Burns, 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  213 

CHRISTIAN  EXPERIENCE. 
At  first,  in  the  early  days  of  fresh  experience 
and  warm  first  love,  the  believer  shoots  up  like 
the  palm-tree,  and  in  a  little  time  seems  almost 
ripe  for  glory.  His  joyful  steps,  "  like  hinds'  feet,'* 
carry  him  swiftly  on,  and  before  he  has  almost 
entered  on  the  heavenly  pilgrimage,  he  seems 
already  on  the  very  confines  of  Canaan.  He 
breathes  after  heaven.  He  longs  to  be  with 
Jesus.  Heaven,  though  still  future,  seems  already 
begun  within  him.  His  peace  is  as  a  river,  his 
joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory.  The  fountain 
of  life  eternal  gushes  up  within  his  heart.  It  is 
a  very  Beulah  of  holy  peace,  and  love,  and  glad- 
ness, and  the  breezes  of  heaven  are  around  him. 
He  is  already  almost  in  glory !  Then  he  fondly 
dreams — but,  alas  !  it  is  but  a  dream.  He  is  yet 
far  from  home.  He  is  not  "  meet  for  the  inherit- 
ance of  the  saints  in  light."  His  experience, 
joyful  and  blessed  as  it.  is,  is  yet  superficial,  in 
many  points  deceitful  and  unreal.  His  faith, 
though  ardent  and  sanguine,  is  as  yet  little  tried. 
His  joy,  so  exulting  and  so  full,  is  yet  sadly  mixed 
up  with  presumption  and  vain  fleshly  feehng. 
His  love,  though  warm,  is  selfish — joying  in  the 


214  THE      EVENING      OF     LIFE. 

Lord  for  his  gifts,  rather  than  for  himself.  The 
old  man  is  jet  strong  within  him.  There  are 
unfathomed  depths  of  corruption  within,  of  which 
he  knows  nothing.  Self,  that  oldest  and  foulest 
idol,  still  lurks  within,  and  has  scarce  as  yet  got 
one  deadly  wound.  He  has  thus  much  to  learn, 
much  to  suffer,  and  much  to  do,  before  he  can 
overcome  and  be  crowned.  Hence  he  must  go 
back  to  the  wilderness  again,  and,  like  the 
redeemed  flock  in  every  age,  pass  "  through  great 
tribulations  " — that,  being  refined  by  the  furnace, 
and  moulded  and  fashioned  under  Jehovah's 
hand  as  a  vessel  of  mercy,  he  may  be  found  at 
last  unto  praise,  and  honor,  and  glory,  at  the 
appearing  of  Jesus  Christ. — Islay  Burns, 

DEATH  A   BLESSING  TO   THE   AGED   SAINT. 

The  chief  benefit  of  our  age  is,  our  near 
approach  to  our  journey's  end  ;  for  the  end  of 
all  motion  is  rest :  which  when  we  have  once 
attained,  there  is  nothing  but  fruition. 

Now  our  age  brings  us,  after  a  weary  race, 
within  some  breathings  of  our  goal :  for  if  young 
men  may  die,  old  men  must ;  a  condition  which 
a  mere   carnal  heart  bewails,   envying  the   oaks 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  215 

which  many  generations  of  men  must  leave 
standing  and  growing. 

No , marvel :  for  the  worldling  thinks  himself 
here  at  home,  and  looks  upon  death  as  a  banish- 
ment: he  hath  placed  his  heaven  here  below, 
and  can  see  nothing  in  his  remove,  but  either 
annihilation  or  torment. 

But  for  us  Christians,  who  know  that  while 
we  are  present  in  the  body  we  are  absent  from 
the  Lord,  and  account  ourselves  foreigners,  our 
life  a  pilgrimage,  heaven  our  home,  how  can  we 
but  rejoice,  that  after  a  tedious  and  painful 
travel,  we  now  draw  near  to  the  threshold  of  our 
Father's  house,  wherein  we  know  there  are 
many  mansions,  and  all  glorious  ?  I  could  blush 
to  hear  a  heathen  say,  "  If  God  would  offer  me 
the  choice  of  renewing  my  age,  and  returning  to 
my  first  childhood,  I  should  heartily  refuse  it; 
for  I  should  be  loth,  after  I  have  passed  so  much 
of  my  race,  to  be  called  back  from  the  goal  to 
the  bars  of  my  first  setting  out ;"  and  to  hear  a 
Christian  whining  at  the  thought  of  his  dissolu- 
tion !  Where  is  our  faith  of  a  heaven,  if,  having 
been  so  long  sea-beaten,  we  are  loth  to  think  of 
putting  into  the  safe  and  blessed  harbor  of  im- 
mortality ? — BisJuyp  HalL 


216  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

Frailty  of  Age. — It  is  as  natural  for  old  age 
to  be  frail,  as  for  the  stalk  to  bend  under  the 
ripened  ear,  or  for  the  autumnal  leaf  to  change 
its  hue. — Blair, 

CHRIST'S   SPIRIT   OF   FORGIVENESS. 

When  on  the  fragrant  sandal-tree 

The  woodman's  axe  descends, 
And  she,  who  bloomed  so  beauteously, 

Beneath  the  keen  stroke  bends, 
E'en  on  the  edge  that  wrought  her  death, 
Dying  she  breathes  her  sweetest  breath, 
As  if  betokening  in  her  fall 
Peace  to  her  foes  and  love  to  all. 
How  hardly  man  this  lesson  learns, 
To  smile,  and  bless  the  hand  that  spurns ; 
To  see  the  blow,  to  feel  the  pain, 
But  render  only  love  again  ! 
This  spirit  not  to  earth  is  given  ; 
One  had  it,  but  He  came  from  heaven. 
Reviled,  rejected,  and  betrayed, 
No  curse  he  breathed,  no  plaint  he  made  ; 
But  when  in  death's  deep  pang  he  sighed, 
Prayed  for  his  murderers,  and  died. — Anon. 

DEATH   A   SLEEP. 
Thou   art  afraid  of  death  : — when  thou  art 
wearj  of  thy  day's  labor,  art  thou  afraid  of  rest  ? 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  21.7 

Hear  what  thy  Saviour,  who  is  the  Lord  of 
life,  esteems  of  death  : — "  Our  friend  Lazarus 
sleepeth." 

So,  the  philosophers  of  old  were  wont  to  call 
sleep  the  brother  of  death  :  but  God  says,  death 
is  no  other  than  sleep  itself:  a  sleep  both  sure 
and  sweet.  When  thou  liest  down  at  night  to 
thy  repose,  thou  canst  not  be  so  certain  to  awake 
again  in  the  morning,  as,  when  thou  layest  thy- 
self down  in  death,  thou  art  sure  to  awake  in  the 
morning  of  the  resurrection.  Out  of  this  bodily 
sleep  thou  mayest  be  startled  with  fearful  dreams, 
with  tumults,  or  alarms  of  war ;  but  here,  thou 
shalt  rest  quietly  in  the  place  of  silence,  free 
from  all  inward  and  outward  disturbances  :  while, 
in  the  meantime,  thy  soul  shall  see  none  but 
visions  of  joy  and  blessedness. 

But,  oh  the  sweet  and  heavenly  expression  of 
our  last  rest,  and  the  issue  of  our  happy  resusci- 
tation !  "  For  if  we  believe  that  Jesus  died  and 
rose  again,  even  so  them  also  which  sleep  in 
Jesus,  will  God  bring  with  him."  So,  our  belief 
is  antidote  enough  against  the  worst  of  death. 
And  why  are  we  troubled  with  death,  w^hen  we 
believe  that  Jesus  died  1  and  what  a  triumph  is 


218  THE       EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

this  over  death,  that  the  same  Jesus  who  died 
rose  again  !  and  what  a  comfort  it  is,  that  the 
same  Jesus  who  arose  skall  both  come  again,  and 
bring  all  his  with  him  in  glory !  and,  lastly,  what 
a  strong  cordial  is  this  to  all  good  hearts,  that  all 
those  who  die  well  do  sleep  in  Jesus !  Thou 
thoughtest,  perhaps,  of  sleeping  in  the  bed  of  the 
grave,  and  there,  indeed,  is  rest ;  but  he  tells  thee 
of  sleeping  in  the  bosom  of  Jesus,  and  there  is 
immortality  and  blessedness. — Bishop  Hall. 

BENEFIT   OF  TRIALS. 

If  the  Lord  is  pleased  to  sanctify  the  infirmi- 
ties to  wliich  our  present  mortal  frame  is  subject, 
we  shall  have  cause  to  praise  him  at  last,  no 
less  for  the  bitter  than  'the  sweet.  I  am  con- 
vinced in  my  judgment,  that  a  cross  or  a  pinch 
somewhere  or  other,  is  so  necessary  to  us,  that 
we  cannot  go  on  w^ell  for  a  considerable  time 
without  one.  We  live  on  an  enchanted  ground, 
are  surrounded  with  snares,  and  if  not  quickened 
by  trials,  are  very  prone  to  sink  into  formaUty  or 
carelessness.  It  is  a  shame  it  should  be  so,  but 
so  it  is,  that  a  long  course  of  prosperity  always 
makes  us  drowsy.      Trials,  therefore,  are  medi- 


THE      EVENING      OF       LIFE.  219 

cines,  which  our  gracious  and  wise  physician 
prescribes  because  we  need  them  ;  and  he  pro- 
portions the  frequency  and  weight  of  them  to 
what  the  case  requires.  Many  of  his  people  are 
sharply  exercised  by  poverty,  which  is  a  con- 
linual  trial  every  day,  and  all  the  year  round. 
Others  have  trials  in  their  families.  They  who 
have  comfortable  firesides,  and  a  competence  for 
this  world,  often  suffer  by  sickness,  either  in  their 
own  persons,  or  in  the  persons  of  those  they  love 
But  any  or  all  of  these  crosses  are  mercies,  if 
the  Lord  works  by  them  to  prevent  us  from 
cleaving  to  the  world,  from  backsKding  in  heart 
or  life,  and  to  keep  us  nearer  to  himself  Let  us 
trust  our  Physician  and  he  will  surely  do  us 
good.  .  And  let  us  thank  him  for  all  his  pre- 
scriptions, for  without  them  our  soul-sickness 
would  quickly  grow  upon  us. — John  Newton. 

If  we  saw  our  Father's  house,  and  that  great 
and  fair  city,  the  New  Jerusalem,  which  is  up 
above  sun  and  moon,  we  would  cry  to  be  over 
the  water,  and  to  be  carried  in  Christ's  arms  out 
of  this  borrowed  prison. — Rutherford. 


220  THE       EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

The  Christian's  Hope. — Time  flies  apace, 
and  past  troubles  will  return  no  more  :  everj^ 
pulse  we  feel  beats  a  sharp  moment  of  the  pain 
awaj,  and  the  last  stroke  will  come.  Then 
sorrow  and  sighing  shall  flee  aw^aj,  and  joy  and 
gladness  shall  come  forth  to  conduct  us  home. — 
John  Newton, 

COMPLETE  IN  CHRIST. 

O  HOW  sweet  to  be  wholly  Christ's,  and 
wholly  in  Christ !  to  be  out  of  the  creature's 
owning,  and  made  complete  in  Christ,  to  live  by 
faith  in  Christ ;  and  to  be  once  for  all  clothed 
with  the  created  majesty  and  glory  of  the  Son  of 
God,  w^herein  he  makes  all  his  friends  and  follow- 
ers sharers !  to  dwell  in  Immanuel's  high  and 
blessed  land,  and  live  in  that  sweetest  air,  where 
no  wind  bloweth,  but  the  breathings  of  the  Holy 
Ghost :  no  seas  nor  floods  flow,  but  the  pure 
waters  of  life,  that  proceed  from  under  the  throne, 
and  from  the  Lamb :  no  planting,  but  the  tree  of 
life  that  yieldeth  twelve  manner  of  fruit  every 
month  !  What  do  we  here  but  sin  and  sufler  ? 
O  when  shall  the  nights  be  gone,  the  shadow^s 
flee   away,  and   the   morning  of  that  long,  long 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE  22i 

day,  without  cloud  or  night,  dawn  !  The  Spirh 
and  the  bride  saj.  Come;  O  when  shall  the 
Lamb's  wife  be  ready,  and  the  Bridegroom  say, 
Come ! — Rutherford, 

FEAR   OF   DEATH. 

Thof  fearest  death :  thou  wert  not  a  man,  if 
thou  didst  not  so :  the  hohest,  the  wisest,  the 
strongest,  that  ever  were,  have  done  no  less. 
He  is  the  king  of  fear,  and  therefore  may  and 
must  command  it.  Thou  mayest  hear  the  man 
after  God's  own  heart  say,  "  The  sorrows  of  death 
compassed  me ;  my  soul  is  full  of  troubles,  my 
life  draweth  nigh  to  the  grave."  Thou  mayest 
hear  great  and  good  Hezekiah,  upon  the  message 
of  his  death,  chattering  like  a  crane  or  a  swallow, 
and  mourning  as  a  dove. 

Thou  fearest  as  a  man :  I  cannot  blame  thee : 
but  thou  must  overcome  thy  fear,  as  a  Christian  , 
which  thou  shalt  do,  if,  from  the  terrible  asptc! 
of  the  messenger,  thou  shalt  cast  thine  eyes  upon 
the  gracious  and  amiable  face  of  the  God  that 
sends  him.  "  Lo,  our  God  is  the  God  of  salva- 
tion ;  and  unto  God  the  Lord  belong  the  issues 
of  death."     Make  him  thy  friend,  and  death  shall 


222  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

be  no  other  than  advantage.  Precious  in  the 
sight  of  the  Lord  is  the  death  of  his  saints. — 
Bishop  Hall. 


DEATH   A  BLESSING  TO   THE   CHRISTIAN. 

"  Better  is  the  day  of  death  than  the  day  oi 
one's  birth."  Better,  every  way.  Our  birth 
begins  our  miseries ;  our  death  ends  them  :  our 
birth  enters  the  best  of  men  into  a  wretched 
world ;  our  death  enters  the  good  into  a  w  orld  of 
glory.  Certainly,  were  it  not  for  our  unbelief, 
as  we  came  crying  into  the  world,  so  we  should 
go  singing  out  of  it.  And  if  some  have  solem- 
nized their  birth-day  with  feasting  and  triumph, 
the  church  of  old  hath  bestowed  that  name  and 
cost  upon  the  death's  day  of  her  martyrs  and 
saints. — Bishop  Hall. 

DEATH  VANQUISHED. 

The  power  of  death,  the  last  enemy,  is 
destroyed,  as  it  respects  all  who  believe  in  Christ 
Instead  of  being  the  jailor  of  hell  and  the  grave, 
he  is  now,  as  it  respects  Christ's  people,  the  porter 
of  Paradise.      All   he  can  now  do   is  to  cause 


THE       EVENING       OF      LIFE.  22'i 

them  lo  sleep  in  Jesus,  release  their  immortal 
spirits  from  the  fetters  which  bind  them  to  earth, 
and  deposit  their  weary  bodies  in  the  tomb  as  a 
place  of  rest,  till  Christ  comes  at  the  last  day,  to 
raise  tliem  incorruptible,  glorious,  and  immortal^ 
and  re-unite  them  to  their  souls  in  a  state  of 
perfect,  never-ending  felicity. — Fay  son. 

THE  HOPE  OF  THE  CHRISTIAN. 
When  the  heathen  Socratej  was  to  die  for  his 
religion,  he  comforted  himself  with  this,  that  he 
should  go  to  the  place  where  he  should  see 
Orpheus,  Homer,  Musaeus,  and  the  worthies  of 
the  former  ag^es.  Poor  man  !  could  he  have 
come  to  have  known  God  manifested  in  the 
flesh,  and  received  up  into  glory,  and  there,  in  that 
glorified  flesh,  sitting  at  the  right  hand  of  Majesty; 
could  he  have  attained  to  know  the  blessed  order 
of  the  cherubim  and  seraphim,  angels,  archangels, 
principalities,  and  powers,  and  the  rest  of  the 
most  glorious  hierarchy  of  heaven  ;  could  he  have 
been  acquainted  with  that  celestial  choir  of  the 
spirits  of  just  men  uiade  perfect ;  could  he  have 
reached  to  know  the  God  and  Father  of  spirits, 
the    infinitely     and    incomprehensibly     glorious 


224  THE       EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

Deity,  whose  presence  transfuses  everlasting 
blessedness  into  all  those  citizens  of  glory;  and 
could  he  have  known  that  he  should  have  an 
undoubted  interest  instantly  upon  his  dissolution, 
in  that  infinite  bliss ;  how  much  more  gladly 
would  he  have  taken  off  his  hemlock,  and  how 
much  more  joyfully  would  he  have  passed  into 
that  happier  world  ! — Bishop  Hall. 

DEATH  OF  JOHN  BUNYAN. 
He  comforted  those  that  wept  about  him, 
exhorting  them  to  trust  in  God,  and  pray  to  him 
for  mercy  and  forgiveness  of  their  sins,  telung 
them  what  a  glorious  exchange  it  would  be  to 
leave  their  troubles  and  cares  of  a  wretched 
mortality  to  live  with  Christ/ for  ever,  with  peace 
crjd  joy  inexpressible  ;  expounding  to  them  the 
comfortable  scriptures  by  which  they  were  to 
bone  and  assuredly  come  unto  a  blessed  resur- 
rection in  the  last  day.  He  desired  some  to 
pray  with  him,  and  he  joined  with  them  in 
prayer,  and  his  last  words,  after  he  had  struggled 
with  a  languishing  disease,  were  these,  "  Weep 
not  for  me,  but  for  yourselves  :  T  go  to  the  Father 
of  .our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  will,  through  the 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  225 

mediation  of  his  blessed  Son,  receive  me  though 
a  sinner,  where  I  hope  we  ere  long  shall  meet  to 
sing  the  new^  song,"  and  remain  everlastingly 
happy,  world  without  end." — From  the  earliest 
Biography  of  Bunyan, 

SONG  OF  DEATH. 

Shrink  not,  O  Human  Spirit, 
The  Everlasting  arm  is  strong  to  save ! 
Look  up,  look  up,  frail  Nature,  put  thy  trust 
In  Him  who  went  down  mourning  to  the  dust, 

And  overcame  the  grave  ! 

Quickly  goes  down  the  sun  ; 

Life's  work  is  almost  done ; 
Fruitless  endeavor,  hope  deferred,  and  strife ! 

One  httle  struggle  more. 

One  pang,  and  then  is  o'er 
All  the  long,  mournful  weariness  of  life. 

Kind  friends,  'tis  almost  past. 

Come  now  and  look  your  last ! 

Sweet  children,  gather  near, 

And  his  last  blessing  hear, 
See  how  he  loved  you  who  departeth  now ! 
And  with  thy  trembling  step  and  pallid  brow 

0,  most  beloved  one, 

Whose  breast  he  leaned  upon, 

^ome,  faithful  unto  death, 

^Receive  his  parting  breath. 

»  11 


226  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

The  fluttering  spirit  panteth  to  be  free, 
Hold  him  not  back  who  speeds  to  victory  ; 
The  bonds  are  riven,  the  struggling  soul  is  free  I 

Hail,  hail,  enfranchised  spirit ! 
Thou  that  the  wine-press  of  the  field  hast  trod ! 
On,  blest  immortal,  on,  through  boundless  space, 
And  stand  with  thy  Redeemer  face  to  face ; 

And  stand  before  thy  God ! 

Life's  weary  work  is  o'er. 

Thou  art  of  earth  no  more : 
No  more  art  trammelled  by  the  oppressive  clay, 

But  tread'st  with  winged  ease 

The  high  acclivities 
Of  truths  sublime,  up  Heaven's  crystalline  way. 
"*■  Here  no  bootless  guest ; 

The  city's  name  is  Rest ; 

Here  shall  no  fear  appal ; 

Here  love  is  all  in  all ; 
Here  shalt  thou  win  thy  ardent  soul's  desire ; 
Here  clothe  thee  in  tliy  beautiful  attire. 

Lift,  lift  thy  wondering  eyes ! 

Yonder  is  Paradise, 

And  this  fair,  shining  band 

Are  spirits  of  thy  land  ! 
And  these  that  throng  to  meet  thee  are  thy  kin, 
Who  have  awaited  thee,  redeemed  from  sin ! 
The  city's  gates  unfold^-enter,  oh !  enter  in  ! 

HouupJiold  Words, 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  227 

DEATH  ^F  STANDFAST. 
When  Mr.  Standfast  had  thus  set  things  in 
order,  and  the  time  being  come  for  him  to  haste 
him  away,  he  went  down  to  the  river.  Now  there 
was  a  great  cahri  at  that  time  in  the  river ; 
wherefore  Mr.  Standfast,  when  he  w^as  about 
half  way  in,  stood  a  while  and  talked  to  his 
companions  that  had  waited  upon  him  thither; 
and  he  said,  "  This  river  has  been  a  terror  to 
many :  yea,  the  thoughts  of  it  also  have  often 
frightened  me!  now,  methinks,  I  stand  easy; 
my  foot  is  fixed  upon  that  on  which  the  feet  of 
the  priests  that  bore  the  ark  of  the  covenant 
stood,  while  Israel  went  over  this  Jordan.  The 
waters  indeed  are  to  the  palate  bitter,  and  to  the 
stomach  cold ;  yet  the  thoughts  of  what  I  am 
going  to,  and  of  the  convoy  that  waits  for  me  on 
the  other  side,  do  lie  as  a  glowing  coal  at  my 
heart.  I  see  myself  now  at  the  end  of  my 
journey ;  my  toilsome  days  are  ended.  I  am 
going  to  see  that  head  that  was  crowned  with 
thorns,  and  that  face  that  was  spit  upon  for  me. 
I  have  formerly  lived  by  hearsay  and  faith,  but 
now  I  go  where  I  shall  hve  by  sight,  and  shall  be 
with  him  in  whose  company  I  delight  myself.     T 


228  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

have  loved  to  hear  my  Lord  spoken  of;  and 
wherever  I  have  seen  the  print  of  his  shoe  in  the 
earth,  there  I  have  coveted  to  set  my  foot  too. 
His  name  has  been  to  me  as  a  civet-box,  yea 
sweeter  than  all  perfumes.  His  voice  to  me  has 
been  most  sweet,  and  his  countenance  I  have 
more  desired  than  they  that  have  most  desired 
the  light  of  the  sun.  His  words  I  did  use  to 
gather  for  my  food,  and  for  antidotes  against  my 
faintings.  He  hath  held  me,  and  hath  kept  me 
from  mine  iniquities ;  yea,  my  steps  have  been 
strengthened  in  his  way." 

Now  while  he  w^as  thus  in  discourse,  his  coun- 
tenance changed,  his  "  strong  man  bowed  under 
him,"  and  after  he  had  said,  "  Take  me,  for  I  am 
come  unto  Thee,"  he  ceased  to  be  seen  of  them. 

But  glorious  it  was  to  see  how  the  open  region 
v\  as  filled  with  horses  and  chariots,  with  trumpet- 
ers and  pipers,  with  singers  and  players  on 
stringed  instruments,  to  welcome  the  pilgrims  as 
they  went  up  and  followed  one  another  in  at 
the  beautiful    gate    of  the  city — Bunyan. 

Death  is  the  dropping  of  the  flower,  that  the 
fruit  may  swell. — H.  W.  Beecher. 


THE     EVENING      OE       LIEE.  22^ 

LONELINESS. 
In  the  hearts  of  the  aged  a  feeling  of  loneli- 
ness is  apt  to  dwell, — often  as  an  invited  and 
cherished  guest.  They  seem  to  stand  alone,  hav- 
ing few  interests  or  sympathies  in  common  with 
those  around  them.  Their  day,  they  think,  is 
over;  their  labor  past,  their  influence  gone,  it 
only  remains  that  they  await,  as  patiently  as  may 
be,  the  day  of  their  death.  While  the  young  have 
their  congenial  circle,  and  manhood  its  thronged 
sphere  of  activity,  they,  the  aged,  must  dwell 
apart  and  alone,  already  neglected  and  for- 
gotten, save  that  here  and  there  lingers  yet  o 
solitary  companion,  like  themselves,  strangers  in 
the  earth.  They  live  in  the  memory  of  departed 
scenes,  snatching  a  brief  pleasure  from  the  retro- 
spect, oftener  a  lengthened  sorrow.  They  re- 
visit the  fountains  where  their  childhood  had 
drank  many  a  cup  of  pleasure  ;  but,  as  they 
linger,  the  fountains  cease  to  flow — they  turn 
away  to  weep.  And  those  who  there  had  quaffed 
with  them  the  exhilarating  draught,  where  are 
they  ?  Long  ago  the  silver  cord  was  loosed,  and 
the  golden  bowl  broken  at  the  cistern.  What  is 
there  now  to  live  for? 


230  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

Into  this  hidden  sanctuary  of  grief  we  would 
not  intrude  with  words  of  harsh  reproof.  It  is 
not  without  cause  that  the  aged  often  yield  to 
melancholy  broodings.  They  have  seen  one  and 
another  of  their  companions  fall  around  them, 
until  few  remain.  They  are  conscious  of  gather- 
ing infirmities  ;  they  cannot  mingle  as  once  in 
the  gay  or  the  rough  scenes  of  life.  The  gal- 
lant ship,  which  had  rode  out  many  a  storm,  and 
carried  many  a  precious  freight,  is  now  drawn  up 
into  the  harbor,  to  engage  no  more  in  the  strifes 
of  the  elements. 

But  may  not  this  feeling  of  isolation  be  in  no 
small  degree  morbid  and  mistaken  ?  Often  the 
aged  have  more  and  warmer  friends  than  they 
are  willing  to  believe.  Often  their  opinions  are 
respected  where  they  imagine  themselves  alto- 
gether without  influence.  Often  they  have  a 
mission  to  perform,  less  active,  it  may  be,  but  no 
less  real  and  blessed,  than  when  their  energies 
were  at  the  full.  Would  they  only  place  them- 
selves in  closer  sympathy  with  the  younger  gen- 
eration, -and  bring  forth  the  ripened  fruits  of 
their  long  experience,  they  w^ould  find  them- 
selves welcomed  where  they  now  feel  that  they 


THE     EVENING      OF     LIFE.  231 

are  a  burden.     When  wisdom  falls  kindly  from 
aged  lips,  it  makes  its  way  to  the  heart. 

But,  at  the  worst  as  to  earthly  society,  the  true 
disciples  of  Christ  have  in  him  a  friend  ever  at 
hand,  who  sticketh  closer  than  a  brother  ;  whose 
love  knows  no  change,  no  abatement.  Faith, 
which  he  most  earnestly  invites  them  to  exercise, 
can  surround  them  with  his  perpetual  presence. 
They  cannot  be  alone.  He  is  more  than  sons  and 
daughters,  more  than  all  the  loved  ones  that  are 
gone.  He  was  of  old  even  from  everlasting,  yet 
upon  him  rests  the  dew  of  youth.  He  ever 
liveth  a  personal  Friend.  He  is  touched  with 
the  feeling  of  your  infirmities,  aged  believers. 
Others  may  desert,  but  he  remains  true  ;  others 
may  die,  but  he  lives.  And,  besides,  your  aged 
friends  who  have  slept  in  Jesus  are  stiU  in  him. 
You  and  they  are  in  him.  The  sacred  bond  is 
unbroken.  Absent  in  body,  they  are  still  with 
you  in  him.  Earth  and  heaven  are  blended. 
On  this  ladder  which  Jacob  saw,  they  who  are 
gone  may  still  come  down  to  be  with  you.  Soon 
you  shall  mount  up,  and  then  you  shall  see  them 
face  to  face. 


232  THE     EVENING     OF      LIFE. 

THE  VALE  OF  TEARS. 
0,  CHILD  of  grief,  remember  the  vale  of  tears 
is  much  frequented ;  thou  art  not  alone  in  thy 
distress.  Sorrow  has  a  numerous  family.  Say 
not  I  am  the  man  that  hath  seen  affliction,  for 
there  be  others  in  the  furnace  with  thee.  Rp- 
member,  moreover,  the  King  of  kings  once  went 
through  this  valley,  and  here  he  obtained  his 
name,  ' '  the  man  of  sorrows  ;  "  for  it  was  while 
passing  through  it  he  became  "  acquainted  with 
^rief. ' ' — Spurgeon. 

CHRIST  A   GUEST. 

If  thou  desirest  Christ  for  a  perpetual  guest, 
give  him  all  the  keys  of  thine  heart ;  let  not 
one  cabinet  be  locked  up  from  him  ;  give  him 
the  range  of  every  room,  and  the  key  of  every 
chamber  ;  thus  you  will  constrain  him  to  remain. 
— Spurgeon, 

THE   CHRISTIAN'S  THOUGHTS   OF  DEATH. 

As  I  grow  older  and  come  nearer  to  death,  I 
look  upon  it  more  and  more  with  complacent  joy ; 
and  out  of  every  longing  I  hear  God  say,  "  0, 
thirsting,  hungering  one,  come  to  me  !    What  the 


THE     EVENING      OF      LIFE.  233 

other  life  will  bring  I  know  not,  only  that  I  shall 
awake  in  God's  likeness,'  and  see  him  as  he  is. 

Beat  on,  then,  0  heart,  and  yearn  for  dying  ! 
I  have  drank  at  many  a  fountain,  but  thirst  came 
again  ;  I  have  fed  at  many  a  bounteous  table, 
but  hunger  returned  ;  I  have  seen  many  bright 
and  lovely  things,  but  while  I  gazed  their  lustre 
faded.  There  is  nothing  here  that  can  give  me 
rest ;  but  when  I  behold  thee,  0  God,  I  shall  be 
satisfied. — K  W.  Beecher. 

FAITH. 

Alas  !  it  is  the  slowest  and  most  painful  les- 
son that  Faith  has  to  learn,— Faith,  not  Indiffer- 
ence,— to  do  steadfastly  and  patiently  all  that 
lies  to  her  hand,  and  there  leave  it,  believing 
that  the  Almighty  is  able  to  govern  his  own 
world. 

SOLITUDE. 

There  is  a  solitude  which  old  age  feels  to  be 
as  natural  and  satisfying  as  that  rest  which 
seems  such  an  irksomeness  to  youth,  but  which 
gradually  grows  into  the  best  blessing  of  our 
lives.  And  there  is  another  solitude  so  full  of 
IP 


234      '        THE     EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

peace  and  hope  that  it  is  like  Jacob's  sleep 
in  the  wilderness,  at  the  foot  of  the  laddei 
of  angels. —  Chamber  si  Journal. 

BLESSED    ARE   THEY  THAT  MOURN. 

0,  DEEM  not  they  are  blest  alone, 
Whose  lives  a  peaceful  tenor  keep ; 

For  God,  who  pities  man,  has  shown 
A  blessing  for  the  eyes  that  weep. 

The  light  of  smiles  shall  till  again 
The  lids  that  overflow  with  tears ; 

And  weary  hours  of  woe  and  pain 
Are  promises  of  happier  years. 

There  is  a  day  of  sunny  rest 

For  every  dark  and  troubled  night ; 

And  grief  may  bide  an  evening  guest, 
But  joy  shall  come  with  early  light. 

Nor  let  the  good  man's  trust  depart. 
Though  life  its  common  gifts  deny  ; 

Though,  with  a  pierced  and  broken  heart, 
And  spurned  of  men,  he  goes  to  die. 

For  God  has  marked  each  sorrowing  day, 
And  numbered  every  secret  tear. 
And  heaven's  long  age  of  bliss  shall  pay 
For  all  his  children  suffer  here. 

Bryant. 


THE     EVENING     OF     LIFE.  235 

EXCELLENCY   OF   CHRIST. 

Christ  is  a  flower,  but  he  fadeth  not ;  he  is  a 
river,  but  he  is  never  dry  ;  he  is  a  sun,  but  he 
knoweth  no  eclipse  ;  he  is  all  in  all,  but  he  is 
something  more  than  all. — Spurgeon. 

NOT  THE   ONLY   MOURNER. 

0,  MOURNER,  say  not  that  thou  art  a  target  for 
all  the  arrows  of  the  Almighty  ;  take  not  to  thy- 
self the  preeminence  of  woe :  for  thy  fellows 
have  trodden  the  valley  too,  and  upon  them  are 
the  scars  of  the  thorns  and  briers  of  the  dreary 
pathway . — Spurgeon. 

A   BEAUTIFUL   OLD   AGE. 

Beautiful  to  behold  is  the  old  man  whose 
heart  still  beats  in  warm  sympathy  with  the  gen- 
eration from  which  he  is  passing  away.  His 
setting  sun  casts  its  mild  radiance  over  the  world 
that  he  is  leaving.  He  would  not  wrap  him- 
self in  clouds,  as  if  in  haste  to  withdraw  his 
light,  but  would  still  shine  on  in  gladness,  as 
long  as  he  lingers  above  the  horizon.     When  he 


236  THE     EVENING     OF     LIFE. 

departs,  he  still  lives  on  earth  in  the  soft  twi- 
light of  his  blessed  memory. 

He  is  an  old  man  ;  he  has  passed  through 
many  trials,  he  has  experienced  the  treachery 
of  false  friends  ;  but  his  heart  is  more  tender 
than  in  his  youth,  his  sympathies  are  deeper  and 
broader.  He  does  not  withdraw  within  the  nar- 
row circle  of  self,  to  brood  over  real  or  fancied 
slights  ;  he  does  not  perpetually  disparage  the 
present  in  contrast  with  the  past ;  he  does  not 
turn  scornfully  away  from  everything  new,  as 
necessarily  evil.  He  has  turned  his  knowledge 
of  the  world  to  better  account.  Without  the 
enthusiasm  of  his  younger  days,  he  is  still  hope- 
ful, but  with  a  wise  sobriety  gained  in  a  long 
and  varied  experience,  wherein  he  has  learned 
to  distinguish  between  the  seeming  and  the  real, 
the  ephemeral  and  the  permanent.  Thus  he  is 
fitted  to  be  a  wise  counsellor,  speaking  the  truth 
in  love.  Even  his  reproofs,  so  kindly  uttered, 
are  received  with  a  feeling  deeper  than  respect. 
The  children  flee  not  at  his  approach,  for  they 
know  he  has  a  pleasant  word  for  them  ;  and 
when  he  changes  his  tone  from  gay  to  grave, 
and  points  to  a  loving  Saviour,  or  to  brighter 


THE     EVENING     OF     LIFE.  237 

worlds,  they  linger  gladly  in  his  presence.  He 
is  welcome  everywhere.  His  hoary  head  is  a 
crown  of  glory.  Blessed  old  man,  he  has  been 
with  Jesus.  The  love  of  Christ  constrains  him. 
He  shall  not  die  unwept. 

I'M   aROWING   OLD. 

I  'm  growing  old — 't  is  surely  so  ; 

And  yet  how  short  it  seems 
Since  I  was  but  a  sportive  child, 

Enjoying  childish  dreams ! 

I  cannot  see  the  change  that  comes 

With  such  an  even  pace ; 
I  mark  not  when  the  wrinkles  fall 

Upon  my  fading  face. 

I  know  I  'm  old ;  and  yet  my  heart 

Is  just  as  young  and  gay 
As  e'er  it  was  before  my  locks 

Of  bright  brown  turned  to  gray. 

I  know  these  eyes  to  other  eyes 

Look  not  so  bright  and  glad 
As  once  they  looked ;  and  yet  't  is  not 

Because  my  heart 's  more  sad. 

I  never  watched  with  purer  joy 

The  floating  clouds  and  glowing  skies, 

While  glistening  tears  of  rapture  fill 
These  old  and  fading  eyes. 


238  THE    EVENING    OF    LIFE. 

And  when  I  mark  the  cheek  where  once 
The  bright  rose  used  to  glow, 

It  grieves  me  not  to  see  instead 
The  almond  crown  my  brow. 

I  've  seen  the  flower  grow  old  and  pale, 
And  withered  more  than  I ; 

I  've  seen  it  lose  its  every  charm, 
Then  droop  away  and  die. 

And  then  I  've  seen  it  rise  again, 
Bright  as  the  beaming  sky, 

And  young  and  pure  and  beautiftd — 
And  felt  that  so  shall  I. 

Then  what  if  I  am  growing  old  ? — 

My  heart  is  changeless  still, 
.  And  Grod  has  given  me  enough 
This  loving  heart  to  fill. 

I  love  to  see  the  sun  go  down, 
And  lengthening  shadows  throw 

Along  the  ground,  while  o'er  my  head 
The  clouds  in  crimson  glow. 

I  see,  beyond  those  gorgeous  clouds, 
A  country  bright  and  fair. 

Which  needs  no  sun :  God  and  the  Lamb 
Its  light  and  beauty  are. 

I  seem  to  hear  the  wondrous  song 
^Redeemed  sinners  sing ; 


THE    EVENING     OF    LIFK.  239 

And  my  heart  leaps  to  join  the  throng 
To  praise  the  Heavenly  King. 

I  seem  to  see  three  cherub  boys, 

As  hand  in  hand  they  go, 
With  golden  curls  and  snowy  wings, 

Whose  eyes,  with  rapture  glow. 

When  I  was  young  I  called  them  mine — 
Now  Heaven's  sweet  ones  are  they ; 

But  I  shall  claim  my  own  again, 
Wheu  I  am  called  away. 

Perhaps,  when  heaven's  bright  gate  I  've  passed, 

They  '11  know  from  every  other 
The  one  who  gave  them  back  to  God, 

And  haste  to  call  me  mother. 

0 !  I  am  glad  I  'm  growing  old ! 

For  every  day  I  spend 
Shall  bring  me  one  day  nearer  that 

Bright  day  that  has  no  end. 

OLD   AGE. 

The  neglected  portion  of  the  great  American 
family  is  old  age — we  are  sorry  to  say.  Not 
that  we,  as  a  nation,  are  disrespectful  to  the  old, 
or  that  they  are  denied  or  grudged  anything. 
We  perform  the  negative  duty  to  them,  by  avoid 


240  THE    EVENING     OF    LIFE. 

ing  all  which  shall  occasion  to  them  offence  or 
deprivation ;  but  we  do  not  perforin  the  positive 
duty  of  assiduously  seeing  that  they  occupy, 
always  and  only,  the  places  of  honor  and  promi- 
nence ;  nor  more  particularly  do  we  study  to 
contrive,  untiringly  and  affectionately,  how  to 
comfort,  strengthen,  cheer,  and  recuperate  them. 
The  old  man  in  one  house  may  have  his  chair  in 
the  drawing-room,  and  his  place  at  the  table, 
and  be  listened  to  when  he  speaks,  and  obeyed 
when  he  commands.  But  in  another  house  he 
will  have  his  easy-chair  cushioned  and  pillowed, 
and  his  arm-chair  at  the  table,  and  the  cook  will 
be  busied  most  with  what  will  newly  nourish  or 
refresh  his  more  delicate  appetite  ;  while  all  lis- 
ten first  for  his  words,  and  address  conversation 
to  him  as  a  centre,  and  eagerly  seek  for  his  com- 
mands as  an  authority.  This  (we  assure  the 
reader,  from  our  own  well-weighed  observation 
in  both  countries)  is  a  fair  picture  of  the  differ- 
ence between  old  age  in  America  and  old  age 
in  England. 

It  is  an  unconscious  fault  in  our  country — 
an  oversight  of  our  life  too  busy,  our  attention 
too    overtasked,    and   our   plans    of    home    and 


THE     EVENING     OF     LIFE 


241 


pleasure  too  unsettled  and  immature  ;  but  the 
feeling  for  better  things  is  in  us,  and  time  will 
bring  this  feeling  into  action.— iV.  P.  Willis. 

The  best  and  most  polished  nations  of  an- 
tiquity held  the  aged  in  high  honor.  Those  of 
the  same  character  among  the  moderns  will  find 
their  highest  good,  as  well  as  purest  pleasure, 
in  imitating  their  example.  A  tender  sapling 
of  the  forest  is  doubtless  an  object  of  interest  to 
every  man  of  heart  or  taste  ;  but  the  oak  that 
has  braved  a  century  of  years  cannot  be  passed 
by  any  being,  but  a  savage,  without  strong  emo- 
tion and  profound  venersition.— Newark  Daily 
Advertiser. 

HOW  TO  BE  HAPPIER. 
Said  a  venerable  farmer,  some  eighty  years 
of  age,  to  a  relative  who  visited  him,  "  I 
have  lived  on  this  farm  for  more  than  half  a 
century.  I  have  no  desire  to  change  my  resi- 
dence as  long  as  I  live  on  earth.  I  have  no 
desire  to  be  richer  than  I  now  am.  I  have  wor- 
shipped the  God  of  my  fathers  with  the  same 
people  for  more  than  forty  years.     During  that 


242  THE     EVENING      OF     LIFE. 

period  I  have  been  rarely  absent  from  the  sanc- 
tuary on  the  Sabbath,  and  have  never  lost  but 
one  communion  season.  I  have  never  been  con- 
fined to  my  bed  by  sickness  a  single  day.  The 
blessings  of  life  have  been  richly  spread  around 
me,  and  I  made  up  my  mind,  long  ago,  that  if  I 
wished  to  become  happier,  /  must  have  more 
religion.'' 

Here  thou  art  but  a  stranger,  travelling  to 
thy  country,  where  the  glories  of  a  kingdom  are 
prepared  for  thee  ;  it  is,  therefore,  a  huge  folly 
to  be  much  afldicted  because  thou  hast  a  less 
convenient  inn  to  lodge  in  by  the  way. 

GROWma  OLD. 
To  "grow  old  gracefully,''  is  a  good  and 
beautiful  thing  ;  to  grow  old  worthily,  a  better. 
And  the  first  effort  to  that  end  is  not  only 
to  recognize,  but  to  become  personally  reconciled 
to,  the  fact  of  youth's  departure  ;  to  see,  or,  if 
not  seeing,  to  have  faith  in,  the  wisdom  of 
that  which  we  call  change,  yet  which  is  in  truth 
progression  ;  to  follow,  openly  and  fearlessly, 
in    ourselves    and   our   owii  life,  the  same   law 


THE     EVENING     OF     LIFE.  24S 

which  makes  spring  pass  into  summer,  summer 
into  autumn,  autumn  into  winter,  preserving  an 
especial  beauty  and  fitness  in  each  of  the  four. 

Yes,  if  women  could  only  believe  it,  theie  is  a 
wonderful  beauty  even  in  growing  old.  The 
charm  of  expression  arising  from  softened  tem- 
per or  ripened  intellect  often  amply  atones  for 
the  loss  of  form  and  coloring  ;  and,  conse- 
quently, to  those  who  never  could  boast  either 
of  these  latter,  years  give  much  more  than  they 
take  away.  Many  a  one,  who  was  absolutely 
plain  in  youth,  thus  grows  pleasant  and  well- 
looking  in  declining  years. —  Chambers'  Journal. 

CHRIST  THE  FOUNDATION. 
Men  who  build  on  any  other  foundation  than 
the  rock  Christ  Jesus  are  like  birds  that  build 
in  trees  by  the  side  of  rivers.  The  bird  sings  in 
the  branches,  and  the  river  sings  below,  but  all 
the  while  the  waters  are  undermining  the  soil 
about  the  roots,  till,  in  some  unsuspected  hour, 
the  tree  falls  with  a  crash  into  the  stream  ;  and 
then  its  nest  is  sunk,  its  home  is  gone,  and  the 
bird  is  a  wanderer.  But  birds  that  hide  their 
young  in  the  clefts  of  the  rock  are  undisturbed, 


244  THE     EVENING     OE     LIFE. 

and,  after  every  winter,  coming  again,  they  find 
their  nests  awaiting  them,  and  all  their  life  long 
brood  the  summer  in  the  same  places,  impreg- 
nable to  time  or  storm. — H.  W.  Beecher, 

PEACE   IN   GOD. 

*'Let  my  soul  calm  itself  in  Thee  ;  I  say,  let  the  great  sea  of  my 
soul,  that  swelleth  with  waves,  calm  itself  in  Thee." — St.  Augustine. 

Life's  mystery — deep,  restless  as  the  ocean — 
Hath  surged  and  wailed  for  ages  to  and  fro ; 

Earth's  generations  watch  in  ceaseless  motion, 
As  in  and  out  its  hollow  moanings  flow  ; 

Shivering  and  yearning  by  that  unknown  sea, 

Let  my  soul  calm  itself,  0  Christ,  in  thee  ! 

Life's  sorrows,  with  inexorable  power, 

Sweep  desolation  o'er  this  mortal  plain  ; 
And  human  loves  and  hopes  fly  as  the  chafiP 

Borne  by  the  whirlwind  from  the  ripened  grain. 
Ah,  when  before  that  blast  my  hopes  all  flee, 
Let  my  soul  calm  itself,  0  Christ,  in  thee ! 

Between  the  mysteries  of  death  and  life 

Thou  standest,  loving,  guiding — not  explaining  ; 

We  ask,  and  thou  art  silent — yet  we  gaze, 

And  our  charmed  hearts  forget  their  drear  complaining ! 

No  crushing  fate,  no  stony  destiny! 

Thou  Lamb  that  hast  been  slain,  we  rest  in  thee  !   - 


THE     EVENING     OF     LIFE. 


245 


The  many  waves  of  thought,  the  mighty  tides, 
The  ground-swell  that  rolls  up  from  other  lands, 

From  far-off  worlds,  from  dim  eternal  shores, 

Whose  echo  dashes  on  life's  wave-worn  strands, — 

This  vague,  dark  tumult  of  the  inner  sea 

Grows  calm,  grows  bright,  0  risen  Lord,  in  thee! 

Thy  pierced  hand  guides  the  mysterious  wheels  ; 

Thy  thorn-crowned  brow  now  wears  the  crown  of  power ; 
And  when  the  dark  enigma  presseth  sore, 

Thy  patient  voice  saith,  "  Watch  with  me  one  hour!  " 

As  sinks  the  moaning  river  in  the  sea 

In  silver  peace,  so  sinks  my  soul  in  thee ! 

H.  B.  Stowe. 

EVERY   MAN'S   LIFE   A   PLAN   OF   GOD. 

Every  human  soul  lias  a  complete  and  perfect 

plan    cherished  for  it  in   the  heart  of   God— a 

divine    biography  marked   out,  which  it  enters 

into  life,  to  live.     This  life,  rightfully  unfolded, 

will   be  a  complete   and   beautiful    whole  ;    an 

experience  led  on  by  God,  and  unfolded  by  the 

secret  nurture  of  the  world  ;   a  drama  cast  in  the 

mould  of  a  perfect  art,  with  no  part  wanting  ; 

a    divine    study   for  the  man    himself,   and  for 

others ;    a   study   that   shall  forever  unfold,   in 

wondrous  beauty,  the  love  and  faithfulness  of 

God  ;    great    in    its   conception,    great   in    the 


246  THE     EVENING     OF     LIFE. 

divine  skill  by  which  it  is  shaped  ;  above  all, 
great  in  the  momentous  and  glorious  issues  it 
prepares.  What  a  thought  is  this  for  every 
human  soul  to  cherish  !  What  dignity  does  it 
add  to  life  !  What  support  does  it  bring  to  the 
trials  of  life  !  What  instigation  does  it  add  to 
send  us  on  in  everything  that  constitutes  our 
excellence  !  We  live  in  the  divine  thought. 
We  fill  a  place  in  the  great  everlasting  plan  of 
God's  intelligence.  We  never  sink  below  his 
care,  never  drop  out  of  his  counsel. — Dr.  Bush- 
nell. 

0  Lord,  take  my  heart,  for  t  cannot  give  it ; 
and  when  thou  hast  it,  0  keep  it,  for  I  cannot 
keep  it  for  thee  ;  and  save  me  in  spite  of 
myself,  for  Jesus  Christ's  sake. — Fenelon, 

Kind  words  are  the  brightest  flowers  of 
earth's  existence  ;  they  make  a  very  paradise 
of  the  humblest  home  the  world  can  show.  Use 
them,  especially  around  the  fireside  circle.  They 
are  jewels  beyond  price,  and  more  precious  to 
heal  the  wounded  heart,  and  make  the  weighed- 
down  spirit  glad,  than  all  other  blessings  the 
earth  can  give. 


THE     EVENING     OF     LIFE.  247 

TWO   IN  HEAYEN. 

"You  have  two  children,"  said  I. 

"I  have  four/'  was  the  reply;  ''two  on 
earth,  two  in  heaven." 

There  spoke  the  mother !  Still  hers,  only- 
gone  before  !  Still  remembered,  loved,  and  cher- 
ished, by  the  hearth  and  at  the  board  ;  their 
places  not  yet  filled,  even  though  their  suc- 
cessors draw  life  from  the  same  faithful  breast 
where  their  dying  heads  were  pillowed. 

''  Two  in  heaven  !  " 

Safely  housed  from  storm  and  tempest.  No 
sickness  there,  nor  drooping  head,  nor  fading 
eyes,  nor  weary  feet.  By  the  green  pastures, 
tended  by  the  Good  Shepherd,  linger  the  little 
lambs  of  the  heavenly  fold. 

"  Two  in  heaven  !  " 

Earth  less  attractive  ;  eternity  nearer  ;  invis- 
ible cords  drawing  the  maternal  soul  upwards. 
''  Still,  small  voices  "  ever  whisper  "  Come  !  " 
to  the  world-weary  spirit. 

'*  Two  in  heaven  !  " 

Mother  of  angels,  walk  softly !  Holy  eyes 
watch    thy   footsteps  ; — cherub    forms   bend    to 


248  THE     EVENING     OF     LIFE. 

listen  !  Keep  thy  spirit  free  from  earth-tain*-  ; 
so  shalt  thou  go  to  them,  though  they  may  not 
return  to  thee. 

RECOGNITION  IN  HEAVEN. 
I  MUST  confess,  as  the  experience  of  my  own 
soul,  that  the  expectation  of  lovimg  my  friends 
in  heaven  principally  kindles  my  love  to  them 
while  on  earth.  If  I  thought  I  should  never 
know  them,  and  consequently  never  love  them, 
after  this  life  is  ended,  I  should  number  them 
with  temporal  things,  and  love  them  as, such  ; 
but  I  nr^w  converse  with  my  pious  friends  in  a 
firm  persuasion  that  I  shall  converse  with  them 
forever  ;  and  I  take  comfort  in  those  that  are 
dead  or  absent,  believing  that  I  shall  shortly 
meet  them  in  heaven,  and'  love  them  with  a 
heavenly  love. — Baxter. 

THE  OTHER  SIDE. 
Once,  on  the  Thames,  the  boat  in  which 
Archbishop  Leighton  was  with  others  came 
near  going  to  the  bottom.  The  rest  were  pale 
with  terror,  but  he  was  perfectly  calm.  To 
some  who  expressed  astonishment  at  his  serenity 


THE    EVENING     OF     LIFE.  249 

and  self-possession,  he  replied,  '^  Why,  what 
harm  would  it  have  been,  if  we  had  been  safely 
landed  on  the  other  side  ?  ' ' 

DYING  IN  CHRIST. 
The  graves  are  no  longer  silent,  since  the 
grave  of  Jesus  is  open.  The  tombstores  upon 
which  the  cross  stands  press  not  heavily.  In 
every  burial-ground  I  hear  the  words,  "  I  live, 
and  ye  shall  live  also.'' — Tholuck, 

The  true  Christian  is  always  young. — t^chleier- 
macher. 

HEAVEN'S   REVELATIONS. 

The  entering  into  heaven  will  revea^  many 
things  unknown  on  earth.  Some  whom  the 
world  thought  saint-like  w^ill  barely  gain  admit- 
tance there  ;  and  others,  who  went  all  their  lives 
in  doubt  and  dread,  will  have  angelic  welcome, 
and  an  abundant  entrance  into  the  heavenly 
kingdom.  ''  The  first  shall  be  last,  and  the  last 
shall  be  first."— ^.  W,  Beecher. 

MAN'S  LIFE. 
The  life  of  every  man  is  as  the  well-spring 
ol  a  stream,  whose  small  beginnings  are  indeed 
12 


250  THE     EVENING     OF     LIFE. 

plain  to  all,  but  whose  ulterior  course  and  desti- 
nation, as  it  winds  through  the  expanses  of 
infinite  years,  only  the  Omniscient  can  discern. 
— CarlyU, 

A  WORLDLY   OLD   MAN. 

There  is  not  a  more  repulsive  spectacle  than 
an  old  man  who  will  not  forsake  the  world,  which 
has  already  forsaken  him. — Tholuck, 

AGED   SINNERS. 

Like  the  worm  clinging  to  the  withered  leaf, 
they  feed  upon  the  faded  memories  of  departed 
days,  which  shall  never  return. — Tholuck. 

OLD   AGE. 

Old  age,  says  the  proverb,  is  a  courtier  ;  he 
knocks  again  and  again  at  the  window  and  at 
the  door,  and  makes  us  everywhere  conscious  of 
his  presence.  Woe  to  the  man  who  becomes 
old  without  becoming  wise  ;  woe  to  him  if  this 
world  shuts  the  door  without  the  future  having 
opened  its  portals  to  him. — Tholuck, 


THE     EVENING     OF     LIFE.  251 

THE   DEATH   OF   MOSES. 

Sweet  was  the  journey  to  the  sky 

The  wondrous  prophet  tried ; — 
•*  Climb  up  the  mount,"  said  God,  "  and  die  ! " 

The  prophet  climbed  and  died. 

Softly  his  fainting  head  he  lay 

Upon  his  Maker's  breast ; 
His  Maker  kissed  his  soul  away, 

And  laid  his  flesh  to  rest. 

In  God's  own  arms  he  left  the  breath 

That  God's  own  Spirit  gave ; 
His  was  the  noblest  road  to  death, 

And  his  the  sweetest  grave. — Watts. 

V 

THAT  DEAR  OLD  SOUL.  A 
"  That  dear  old  soul  !  "  The  very  words 
bring  up  vividly  to  the  mind's  eye  one  long  since 
gone  to  her  rest,  to  whose  name  they  were  for 
years  a  sweet  appendage.  When  first  we  saw 
her,  her  hair  was  blanched  by  many  winters  and 
many  sorrows  ;  but  each  of  those  winters  had 
been  suc^ceeded  by  a  balmy  spring,  each  sorrow 
by  a  sanctified  joy.  Never  till  then  did  age 
seem  beautiful.  I  had  regarded  one  advanced  in 
years  like  a  tree  in  autumn,  stripped  of  its 
leaves,  robbed  of  its  fruit,  and  standing  only  for 


252  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

the  mad  winds  and  the  wild  storms  to  whistle 
through  and  beat  against.  But  in  ''  Mother 
Allen  "  I  saw  the  leaves  only  nipt  and  faded, — 
the  tree  stood  firm  and  strong,  with  its  boughs 
still  bending  beneath  their  weight  of  golden 
fruit. 

Her  abundant  hair  was  soft  and  silvery  white, 
daubed  with  no  vile  dye,  and  hidden  beneath  no 
tress  stolen  from  the  brow  of  youth.  It  was 
combed  plainly  over  that  calm,  pure  brow,  which 
even  time  had  not  the  power  to  wrinkle.  Beau- 
tiful she  could  never  have  been  even  in  sunny 
girlhood,  for  her  features  were  large  and  irregu- 
lar ;  but  lovely  she  was,  even  to  the  eyes  of 
strangers,  who  had  yet  to  learn  her  worth.  Hei 
eyes  were  deeply  set,  giving  an  earnest,  thought- 
ful expression  to  her  face,  while  the  calm  smile 
on  her  lips  told  of  the  perfect  peace  which  dwelt 
in  her  bosom.  In  her  face  one  might  have  found 
a  fulfilment  of  the  promise,  ''He  shall  have 
perfect  peace  whose  mind  is  stayed  on  Thee.'' 

Mother  Allen  was  no  lady  of  leisure,  with 
nothing  to  disturb  her  mind  or  interfere  with  her 
tranquillity.  In  early  life,  while  her  children 
were  with  her,  she  was  called  to  drink  the  cup 


THE     EVENING      OF      LIFE.  25S 

of  poverty  and  unrequited  love,  to  the  very  dregs. 
Many  an  hour  of  anguish  did  she  pass  in  com- 
paring the  happy  days  of  her  maidenhood  with 
her  then  present  cruel  desolation.     Many  a  night, 
while  the  tempest  roared  among  the  trees  whicli 
surrounded  her  comfortless  home,  while  he  who 
had  sworn  to  protect  her  was  a  wanderer  in  the 
haunts  of  vice,  did  she  kneel  beside  her  sleeping 
babes,  and  plead  with  her  mother's  God  that  He 
would  shield  the  defenceless  stranger   and    her 
darling  little  ones.     How  often,  in  solemn  mid- 
night, did  her  plaintive  voice  mingle  with  the 
murmuring  of  the  pin^s,  while  she  pleaded  with 
Him  who  ''  heareth  the  young  ravens  when  they 
cry,"  that  He  would  send  bread  in  the  desert  to 
those  who  were  of  more  value  than  they !    In  her 
agony  for   her  husband,  she   would    sometimes 
almost  forget  the  temporal  wants  of  her  family, 
and  cry  unto  Him  who  came  to  seek  the  lost  that 
He  would  restore  the  beloved,  deluded  wanderer, 
back  to  purity,  to  home,  and  to  duty.     And  she 
brought  her  case  before  the  throne  as  if  she  ex- 
pected an  answer  of  mercy.     When  the  morning 
broke  upon   her  sleepless  eyes,  she  would  gaze  ■ 
from  the  door  of  her  unfinished  dwelling  on  all 


254  THE     EVENING      OF     LIFE. 

the  beauties  God  had  spread  out  to  cheer  the 
heart  of  the  weary.  And  for  these  she  offered 
heartfelt  praise.  Some  persons,  when  in  anguish 
of  spirit,  almost  reproach  nature  for  its  calm, 
joyous  course.  They  feel  as  if  it  heightened 
their  sorrow  to  see  all  things  gay  around  them  ; 
they  feel  that  nature  should  cast  off  her  mantle 
of  green,  and  robe  herself  in  sackcloth  ;  that  the 
flowers  should  wither,  the  stars  fade,  the  sun 
hide  its  face,  and  the  -birds  change  their  warbles 
into  wailing  dirges,  all  because  one  soul  is  in 
heaviness.  But  not  so  was  it  with  the  pure- 
hearted,  the  refined  Rutl^  Allen.  She  thanked 
Heaven  that  when  all  was  darkness  and  desola- 
tion within,  she  could  look  abroad  upon  a  world 
of  light  and  beauty  ;  that  when  earthly  love  had 
deceived  her,  she  could  cast  herself  still  on  the 
bosom  of  One  whose  love  and  compassion  are  in- 
finite. She  saw  the  lily  that,  without  care  or 
labor,  was  so  richly  clothed  ;  the  wanton  birds 
who  were  so  tenderly  sheltered  and  sustained  ;  the 
lowing  herds  trampling  down  their  abundant  pro- 
vision in  field  and  meadow  ;  and  she  raised  her 
earnest  eyes  to  heaven,  whispering,  in  childlike 
faith,  "  Father,  wilt  thou  not  much  more  care  for 


THE     EVENING     OF     LIFE.  255 

me  and  mine  ?  "  And  think  you  that  the  young 
wife  and  mother  pleaded  in  vain  ?  Never.  '  *  K 
ye,  being  evil,  know  how  to  give  good  gifts  unto 
your  children,  how  much  more  shall  your  Father 
which  is  in  heaven  give  good  things  unto  them 
that  ask  him  ?  ' ' 

While  Ruth  Allen  was  yet  speaking,  her 
prayer  was  answered.  A  solemn  providence, 
which  deprived  an  evil  associate  of  life  in  a 
moment,  roused  the  sleeping  conscience  of  her 
husband.  God  spoke,  and  he  was  reclaimed. 
As  a  humble  penitent  he  sought  mercy  of 
Heaven,  and  forgiveness  of  her  whose  young 
hopes  he  had  so  cruelly  blighted.  Old  things 
with  him  were  passed  away,  and  all  things  be- 
come new.  God  smiled  abundantly  on  the  labor 
of  their  hands.  The  showers  fell  freely,  and 
the  sun  lay  long  upon  their  meadows ;  their 
flocks  multiplied  in  the  pasture,  and  their  cattle 
in  the  stall.  They  now  had  bread  enough  and  to 
spare  ;  and  she  whose  eyes  had  faded  by  stitch- 
ing wearily  over  the  dull  midnight  lamp,  patch- 
ing the  rags  of  her  children,  had  now  the  joy  of 
seeing  them  comfortably  and  decently  clothed. 
Her  grateful  heart  was  full  to  overflowing.     God 


256  THE     EVENING     OF     LIFE. 

Lad  given  her  more  of  temporal  good  than 
her  humble  spirit  had  ever  craved.  He  alone 
knoweth  how  much  of  this  earthly  good  was 
given  in  approbation  of  her  affectionate  trust  in 
Hi  ill. 

"  But  shall  a  man  receive  good  at  the  hand  of 
the  Lord,  and  not  evil  V  No  ;  for  "  the  day  of 
prosperity  and  the  day  of  adversity  are  set  one 
over  against  the  other."  While  the  long-deserted 
home  was  beginning  to  bud  and  blossom  like  a 
rose,  the  angel  of  death  sped  thither  and  over- 
shadowed their  dwelling  with  his  dark  wing.  The 
first-born,  who  had  been  his  mother's  stay,  who 
had  sympathized  in  her  anguish,  kissed  away  her 
tears,  and  whispered,  "  Wait  a  while,  mother;  in 
thirteen  short  years  I  '11  be  a  man,  and  then  you 
shall  never  suffer  any  more;" — he,  the  child  of 
her  love  and  her  sorrow,  was  taken  away,  and 
his  place  left  vacant  in  the  little  bed,  at  the 
board,  and  at  the  hearthstone.  She  had  then  no 
time  for  tears — her  care  was  all  for  the  other  two, 
who,  while  their  brother  slept  in  peace,  w^ere 
tossing  in  burning  fevers  on  their  bed  of  pain. 
The  second,  and  then  the  third,  in  one  short 
week,  wTrc  laid  beside  him  in  the  little  grave- 


THE     EVENING     OF     LIFE".  257 

yard  of  the  new  settlement ;  and  the  home  of  Kuth 
Allen,  which  so  lately  had  rung  with  the  merry 
laughter  of  three  noble  boys,  was  left  unto  her 
desolate.  How  desolate,  bereaved  mothers  only 
can  know.  Did  she  not  wrap  herself  in  deep 
gloom,  and  weep  as  one  who  would  not  be  com- 
forted, when  this  great  calamity  befell  her  ? 
No  ;  she  gave  her  sons  to  God — they  were  not 
torn  from  her.  So  far  from  charging  God  fool- 
ishly, she  even  thanked  him  that,  while  many 
wretched  mothers  were  weeping  over  ruined  sons, 
she  had  the  assurance  that  her  whole  family  were 
folded  forever  in  the  bosom  of  Infinite  Love, — se- 
cure from  hunger,  neglect,  temptation,  and  pain. 
Then,  when  this  free-will  offering  had  been  made 
to  Heaven,  did  she,  with  a  chastened  mien, 
go  abroad  among  the  poor  and  vicious,  seeking 
for  children  to  fill  the  places  thus  made  vacant. 
During  the  ten  years  that  followed,  four  name- 
less little  ones  were  received  into  her  family  and 
her  heart.  What  had  once  been  a  forest  settle- 
ment was  fast  changing  into  the  metropolis  of  a 
growing  State.  Wealth  flowed  in  upon  farmer 
Allen,  by  the  sale  of  his  rich  lands.  Servants 
and  laborers  filled  their  house  and  grounds,  and 
12* 


258  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

to  all  of  them  his  wife  was  as  a  mother.  She 
addressed  each  dependent  as  "  child,"  and  they 
were  constrained  to  believe  that  in  all  her  deal- 
ings she  had  their  welfare  at  heart.  Then  she 
began  to  be  called  "our  misthress,  dear  sowl," 
and  then  the  neighbors  and  friends,  and  finally 
everybody,  called  her  "  Mother  Allen,  dear  soul. " 
A  rude  emigrant,  all  unused  to  such  gentle  tones 
as  hers,  exclaimed,  after  being  a  week  or  two 
beneath  her  roof,  "Sure,  I  thought  afoor  I  coom 
to  this  hoose  that  Protestants  were  all  like  wild 
bastes.  I  was  taught  by  my  moother — rest  her 
sowl ! — that  not  a  fut  of  thim  hiritics  could  iver 
inter  hiven,  unless  they  first  coom  into  the  hooly 
moother  choorch.  But  if  that  same  is  thrue,  it's 
meself  would  rather  be  after  living  forever  with 
the  likes  of  my  misthress,  dear  sowl,  than  in 
hiven  itself,  among  my  own  coonthry  folk  ;  for 
it 's  drinking  and  fighting  they  be  foriver,  when 
there  be  so  many  of  thims  togither,  and  not  a 
Protestant  at  all  there  to  separate  thim  and  make 
pace.  Och,  och,  but  there  's  hivin  in  her  eyes — 
my  misthress,  dear  sowl !  "    / 

Mother  Allen  had  her  trials  among  the  many 
working   people  her   husband    employed.      Her 


THE     EVENING      OF     LIFE.  259 

confidence  was  often  abused,  and  her  disinter- 
ested love  repaid  with  black  ingratitude.  But 
through  all  she  remained  the  same.  No  ear  ever 
heard  her  taunt  these  rude  children  of  oppression 
with  their  foreign  birth,  their  early  poverty, 
their  false  religion.  She  reasoned  with  them  as 
human  beings,  she  entreated  them /or  their  own 
sakes,  and  wooed  them  back  to  duty  by  her  pa- 
tient efforts.  Many  a  lady,  reared  in  a  home  of 
elegance,  might  have  learned  lessons  of  dignity 
and  propriety  from  Mother  Allen,  in  her  inter- 
(jourse  with  and  management  of  her  servants. 
In  no  way  is  the  true  lady  more  readily  distin- 
guished from  the  counterfeit  than  in  her  deport- 
ment towards  these  humble  members  of  her 
family. 

The  love  of  this  dear  woman  began  at  home, 
but  it  did  not  end  there.  The  sufferer  every- 
where found  in  her  a  friend,  the  erring  and  fallen 
a  mother  and  an  encouraging  counsellor.  In 
her  closet,  at  her  fireside,  over  her  work,  among 
her  neighbors,  in  the  church  of  God,  everywhere, 
it  was  evident  that  she  lived  not  unto  herself. 
The  most  hardened  scoffer  was  forced  to  admit 
that   she    was    a   bright    and    shining  light,    a 


260  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

beautiful  example  for  the  wives  and  mothers 
around  her.  The  law  of  kindness  was  ever 
on  her  tongue,  and  the  gentlest  and  tender- 
est  rebuke  ready  on  her  lip.  Many  a  youth, 
who  had  scorned  a  father's  counsel  and  despised 
a  mother's  entreaties,  won  by  the  affectionate 
interest  and  sweet  tones  of  Mother  Allen,  has 
listened  respectfully  to  her  earnest  warning,  and 
been  drawn  by  her  efforts  to  forsake  the  seat  of 
the  scorner  and  to  seek  God's  house. 

But  the  place  where  this  good  woman's  influ- 
ence was  the  most  deeply  felt — and  it  was  a 
place  she  coveted — was  at  the  bed  of  pain.  The 
young,  who,  having  been  often  reproved,  had 
hardened  their  hearts,  would  call  for  her  in 
the  hour  of  their  souls'  extremity.  "0,"  cried 
one  such,  "I  cannot  look  upon  my  afflicted 
father,  I  cannot  see  the  pastor, — his  face  would 
jnly  remind  me  of  the  many  warnings  I  have 
received  unheeded  from  his  lips.  But  bring 
Mother  Allen  to  me.  I  can  almost  see  'hope' 
now  in  the  memory  of  her  dear  face.  Let  her 
come  and  teach  me^let  her  come,  and^  with  her 
faith ^  pray  for  me." 

But  the  frosts  of  age  fell  upon  her  ;  its  infirm- 


THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE.  26i 

ities  bound  her  fast,  so  that  she  could  no  longer 
go  about  doing  good.  But  when  she  could  not 
go  out  to  her  work,  the  work  came  in  to  her. 
The  winter  of  her  life  had  no  long,  dark  days,  no 
listless  melancholy,  no  fretful  murmurings.  She 
mo\^ed  around  her  house  in  a  wheel-chair,  de- 
manding little  care,  but  receiving  much, — the 
object  of  a  thousand  little  acts  of  delicate  love, 
which  money  could  never  purchase.  A  domestic, 
being  asked  if  she  were  not  weary,  replied,  ''  No ; 
I  'm  never  weary  in  waiting  upon  her,  for  her 
patience  would  shame  me,  if  I  were."  ^ 

Mother  Allen  had  learned  that  most  beautiful 
lesson  for  woman,  how  to  ''  grow  old  grace- 
fully." She  was  not  only  borne  with,  but  she 
was  really  admired  for  her  age,  and  the  charms 
that  clustered  around  it.  Life's  sun,  which  had 
been  so  often  concealed  by  clouds,  had  its  setting 
in  a  calm,  bright  sky.  We  may  almost  say  of 
her  that  she  never  died,  her  going  was  so  like 
sinking  into  a  quiet  sleep.  It  was  one  cold, 
bright  day  in  winter  that  she  entered  into  her 
rest.  Her  chair  had  been  drawn  to  the  western 
window,  that  she  might  use  the  last  of  daylight 
in   finishing  one  of  several  little,  garments  for  a 


262  THE     EVENING     OF     LIFE. 

suffering  family.  The  last  stitch  was  set,  the  last 
button  sewed  on,  her  thimble  was  placed  on  the 
window-seat,  and  the  spectacles  lay  in  her  hand. 
She  was  noticed  gazing  at  the  gorgeous  sunset, 
whose  splendor  was  reflected  upon  snow  and  ice- 
clothed  trees,  making  the  whole  scene  like  a  world 
of  diamonds.  The  cheerful  bell  rang  for  tea ; 
her  aged  companion  and  her  attendant  came  to 
draw  her  chair  into  the  dining-room  Each  took 
an  arm  of  it,  when  her  husband  said,  ''  She  is 
asleep,  dear  soul  \"  It  was  the  sleep  that  knows 
no  waking.  She  was  not,  for  God  had  taken  her. 
— /.  D.  C. 

THE  FRUITFUL  CHRISTIAN'S  END. 
When  in  the  evening,  after  a  hot  day,  one 
returns  to  his  home  laden  with  fruit,  all  the 
dwellers  rejoice.  Thus  I  see  thee,  thou  pure, 
blessed  spirit,  enter  into  thy  Father's  home,  and 
the  dwellers  in  heaven  rejoice. — Tholuck, 

SUFFERING  WITH   CHRIST. 
Shall  I  not  be  ashamed  of  the  roses  around 
my  brow,  when  I  see  Him,  and  all  the  princes 
of  his  kingdom,  with  the  crown  of  thorns  ? — Tho- 
luck. 


THE     EVENING     OF     LIFE.  263 

THE  SYMPATHY   OF  JESUS. 

When  two  persons  meet  who  are  able  to  re- 
count similar  necessities,  and  the  same  bufFet- 
ings  of  Satan,  0,  what  mutual  disclosures  take 
place  !  what  trustful  communicativeness,  what 
tender  sympathy,  is  then  manifest !  Then  one 
soul  gushes  out  and  flows  over  into  the  other, 
and  time  steals  rapidly  on.  But,  on  the  other 
hand,  toward  one  who  knows  not  our  needs  by 
experience,  we  are  dumb,  reserved,  and  take  no 
pleasure  in  communicating,  because  we  fear  that 
he  will  be  able  neither  to  understand  nor  sympa- 
thize with  us. 

So,  indeed,  would  we  have  "kept  further  away 
from  our  heavenly  Friend,  had  he  not  become 
our  companion  in  tribulation.  But  now  the 
thought  is  exceedingly  refreshing,  that  he  him- 
self was  tempted  in  all  points  like  as  we  are, 
and  knows  the  bitterest  anguish  of  our  soul  from 
his  own  experience.  Now,  even  though  no  fel- 
low-man understands  us^ah!  still  we  know  there 
is  yet  one  Friend  at  hand,  to  whom  we  need  but 
lisp  a  word  of  our  affairs  and  concerns,  and  he 
at  once  comprehends  all  we  feel.     His  experi- 


2G4  THE     EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

ence  reaches  down  into  the  thickest  nights  of  the 
soul — into  the  most  frightful  depths  of  inward 
sufferings  or  conflicts. 

Under  no  juniper-tree  canst  thou  sit,  which 
has  not  overshadowed  him  ;  no  thorn  can  wound 
thee,  from  which  his  heart  has  not  bled ;  no 
fiery  dart  can  hit  thee,  which  has  not  been  shot 
at  his  sacred  head.  He  can  indeed  have  com- 
passion. Yes,  only  believe  it,  dear  soul ;  as 
often  as  thou  liest  in  the  furnace,  over  thee  the 
eyes  of  the  watchful  Kefiner  melt  in  tears,  and 
a  great,  holy  mother-heart  bleeds  for  thee  in 
sympathy  from  heaven. — Krummacher, 


MY   GRANDMOTHEK. 

What  tender  recollections  cluster  round  thy 
name,  cherished  friend  of  our  childhood  days ! 
How  quickly  the  name  of  grandmother  reaches 
our  ears,  leaxling  us  far  back  into  the  half- for- 
gotten past,  when  we  all,  light-hearted  and  free, 
sat  at  her  feet.  0,  blissful  hours  they  were — 
all  too  bright,  too  gladsome,  to  be  lasting !  Yes, 
the  hours  spent  at  grandma's  home  shed  a 
bright  halo  over  the   present.      Her  home  was 


THE     EVENING     OF     LIFE.  265 

not  one  to  attract  a  stranger ;  there  were  no 
costly  displays  of  architecture,  no  vine-festooned 
bowers,  but  simply  a  little  farm-house,  that  ever 
created  emotions  of  beauty  in  my  young  heart. 
Methinks  I  see  it  now,  as  when  I  last  visited  it 
before  she  was  called  to  her  last,  long  sleep, — 
with  the  old  well-sweep  that  seemed  to  vie  with 
the  towering  elm  at  its  side,  the  brook  that 
flowed  gently  o'er  its  pebbly  bed,  on,  on,  down 
to  the  rustic  old  mill,  whose  ''rafters  have  all 
tumbled  in,*'  and  the  orchard  that  reached  far 
along  the  hillside — even  to  the  silent  city  of  the 
dead.  Oft  had  I  wandered  there  alone  among 
the  mounds,  with  thoughtful  heart ;  and  now — 
tread  lightly,  speak  softly,  for  do  ye  not  see 
that  "short and  narrow  bed,"  newly  made,  and 
will  ye  not  ask  Heaven's  blessing  upon  the 
household  band  that  have  been  made  desolate  ? 

Ah,  well  do  I  remember  the  beautiful  smile 
that  lighted  up  my  grandma's  brow,  as  she  wel- 
comed me,  as  oft  before,  to  her  humble  home  ! 
I  thought  the  wrinkles  had  deepened  upon  her 
brow,  the  light  faded  from  her  eye, — but  still 
reflecting  more  of  heaven  than  when  she  last 
gave  me  a  parting  blessing.    .  She  seemed  more 


266  THE     EVENING     OF     LIFE. 

thoughtful,  as  she  sat  there,  in  the  "  old  arm- 
chair," with  the  family  Bible  upon  the  stand  by 
her  side,  than  I  had  seen  her  before  ;  and  oft- 
ener  spoke  of  heaven  and  its  joys,  oftener  wished 
me  to  read  to  her  from  her  most  precious  earthly 
treasure,  the  Bible. 

Tell  me  not  of  ''  duties  to  the  aged,"  but 
rather  of  the  peaceful  pleasure  one  receives  in 
performing  acts  of  kindness  to  them.  Ah,  speak 
kindly,  lovingly,  to  them,  for 

Enough  of  sorrow  this  cold  world  hath, 
Enough  of  care  in  its  later  path. 

Then  see  that  ye  add  not  a  furrow  to  the  sil- 
vered brow  of  the  feeble  and  aged  one.     Yes, 

"  Speak  gently  to  age  ! 
A  weary  way  is  the  rough  and  toilsome  road  of  life, 

As  one  by  one  its  joys  decay. 
And  its  hopes  go  out  'mid  its  lengthened  strife." 

Never  have  I  regretted  one  kind  word  spoken 
to  my  dear  grandmother  ;  but  a  sigh  oft  swells 
my  bosom,  and  tears  moisten  my  eye,  because  I 
so  poorly  smoothed  her  rough  and  toilsome  path. 
Death  claimed  our  loved  one  when  the  lamp  of 
life  was  almost  extinguished.     She  is  now  lying 


THE     EVENING      OF     LIFE.  26Y 

under  those  brown  autumn  leaA^es,  with  the  sad 
winds  blowing  across  her  grave,  and  her  pure 
spirit  has  gone  to  that  land  where  age  dims  not 
the  eye.  Death  to  her  was  but  the  commence- 
ment of  life — a  passport  to  a  brighter  world, 
where  dwell  many  who  have  gone  on  before, 
and  await  her  in  their  eternal  home.  May  we 
all  be  gathered,  at  last,  to  join  her  in  singing 
praises  to  Him  who  sitteth  upon  the  throne ! — 
Rural  New  Yorker, 

I  HAVE  gained  the  victory,  and  Christ  is  hold- 
ing out  both  hands  to  embrace  me. — Rutherford . 


A   WORD   FOR  THE   UNMARRIED. 

A  FINISHED  life — a  life  which  has  made  the 
best  of  all  the  materials  granted  to  it,  and 
through  which,  be  its  web  dark  or  bright,  its 
pattern  clear  or  clouded,  can  now  be  traced 
plainly  the  hand  of  the  Great  Designer — surely 
this  is  worth  living  for !  And,  though  at  its 
end  it  may  be  somewhat  lonely  ;  though  a  ser- 
vant, and  not  a  daughter's  arm  may  guide  the 
failing    step ;     though    most   likely   it   will   be 


268  THE      EVENING      OF      LIFE. 

strangers  only  who  come  about  the  dying  bed, 
close  the  eyes  that  no  husband  ever  kissed,  and 
ilraw  the  shroud  kindly  over  the  poor,  withered 
breast,  where  no  child's  head  has  ever  lain  ;  still 
such  a  life  is  not  to  be  pitied,  for  it  is  a  com- 
plete life.  It  has  fulfilled  its  appointed  course, 
and  returns  to  the  Giver  of  all  breath.  Nor  w^ill 
He  forget  it  when  He  counteth  up  his  jewels. — 
Chambers'  Journal. 

HEAVEN    NEAR. 

One  should  go  to  sleep  at  night  as  homesick 
passengers  do,  saying.  Perhaps  in  the  morning 
we  shall  see  the  shore.  To  us  who  are  Chris- 
tians, it  is  not  a  solemn,  but  a  delightful  thought, 
that  perhaps  nothing  but  the  opaque  bodily  eye 
prevents  us  from  beholding  the  gate  which  is 
open  just  before  us,  and  nothing  but  the  dull 
ear  prevents  us  from  hearing  the  ringing  of 
those  bells  of  joy  which  welcome  us  to  the  heav- 
enly land. — H.  W.  Beecher, 

HEAVEN. 
As,  though  the   sky  is  not  steadfastly  clear, 
but  often  is  covered  with  clouds,  yet  through 


THE     EVENING      OF      LIFE.  269 

the  folds  there  shine  at  intervals  the  everlasting 
stars,  so  through  the  darkness  of  our  hearts 
there  steals  at  times  the  celestial  glory,  and  we 
rejoice  that  there  is  a  heaven  above  the  world. 
—H   W.  Beecher. 

HUMILITY. 

The  bird  that  soars  on  highest  wing 

Builds  on  the  ground  her  lowlj  nest ; 
And  she  that  doth  most  sweetly  sing 

Sings  in  the  shade  when  all  things  rest ; 

In  lark  and  nightingale  we  see 

What  honor  hath  humility. 

When  Mary  chose  the  "  better  part," 

She  meekly  sat  at  Jesus'  feet ; 
And  Lydia's  gently-opened  heart 

Was  made  for  God's  own  temple  meet ; 

Fairest  and  best  adorned  is  she 

Whose  clothing  is  humility. 


The  saint  that  wears  heaven's  brightest  crown' 

In  deepest  adoration  bends ; 
The  weight  of  glory  bows  him  down 

Then  most  when  most  his  soul  ascends ; 

Nearest  the  throne  itself  must  be 

The  footstool  of  humility. 

James  Montgomery. 


270  THE      EVENING     OF      LIFE. 

GOD'S  MERCY. 

No  mercy  hath  been  more  endeared  than  what 
hath  broken  out  of  the  thickest  cloud,  or  more 
full  and  sweet  than  what  hath  come  after  much 
patience  and  continued  wrestlings. — Fleming. 

TRUST    IN  GOD. 

Nothing  does  so  much  establish  the  mind, 
amidst  the  rolling  and  turbulence  of  present 
things,  as  both  a  look  above  them,  and  a  look 
beyond  them  :  above  them,  to  the  steady  and 
good  Hand  by  which  they  are  ruled ;  and  beyond 
them,  to  the  sweet  and  beautiful  end  to  which, 
by  that  Hand,  they  shall  be  brought. — Leighton. 

CHILDHOOD. 

Childhood  often  holds  a  truth,  with  its  feeble 
fingers,  which  the  grasp  of  manhood  cannot  re- 
tain, which  it  is  the  pride  of  utmost  age  to 
recover. — Ruskin, 

GOD'S    INFINITY. 

The  infinity  of  God  is  not  mysterious,  it  is 
only  unfathomable  ;    not  concealed,  but  incom- 


THE     EVENING     OF     LIFE.  271 

prehensible.      It  is  a  clear  infinity,  the  darkness 
of  the  pure,  unsearchable  sea. — Ruskin, 

CHRIST  EVERYWHERE. 

When  a  native  female  Christian  of  India  was 
interrogated  as  to  the  state  of  her  mind,  she  re- 
plied, "Happy!  happy!  I  have  Christ  here,'' 
laying  her  hand  on  her  Bengali  Bible  ;  ''and 
Christ  here,''  pressing  it  to  her  heart;  ''and 
Christ  there,"  pointing  toward  heaven. 

EVENINa-TIME. 

ZECH.    XIV.  7. 

At  evening-time  let  there  be  light : — 
Life's  little  day  draws  near  its  close ; 

Around  me  fall  the  shades  of  night, — 
The  night  of  death,  the  grave's  repose. 
To  crown  my  joys,  to  end  my  woes, 

At  evening-time  let  there  be  light. 

At  evening-time  let  there  be  light : — 

Stormy  and  dark  hath  been  my  day; 
Yet  rose  the  morn  oenignly  bright, 

Dews,  birds,  and  flowers,  cheered  all  the  way. 

0,  for  one  sweet,  one  parting  ray  ! 
At  evening-time  let  there  be  light. 


272  THE     EVENING     OF     LIFE 

At  evening-time  there  shall  be  light, 
For  Grod  hath  said,  "  So  let  it  be." 

Fear,  doubt,  and  anguish,  take  their  flight, — 
His  glory  now  is  risen  on  me ! 
Mine  eyes  shall  his  salvation  see ; — 

'T  is  evening-time,  and  there  is  light. 

James  Montgomery. 

THE  SINNER'S  SAVIOUR. 

Kneeling  by  the  bed  of  an  apparently  dying 
saint,  I  said,  "  Well,  sister,  He  has  been 
precious  to  you  ;  you  can  rejoice  in  his  cov- 
enant mercies,  and  his  past  loving-kindnesses." 
She  put  out  her  hand,  and  said,  ''Ah,  sir,  do 
not  talk  about  them  now  ;  I  want  the  sinner's 
Saviour  as  much  now  as  ever.  It  is  not  a 
saint's  Saviour  I  want ;  it  is  still  a  sinner's 
Saviour  that  I  am  in  need  of,  for  I  am  a  sinner 
still. ' ' — Spurgeon. 

MEMBERS   ONE   OF  ANOTHER. 

The  individuals  of  each  race  of  lower  animals, 
being  not  intended  to  hold  among  each  other 
those  relations  of  charity  which  are  the  privi- 
lege of  humanity,  are  not  adapted  to  each 
other's  assistance,   admiration,    or   support,    by 


THE     EVENING     OF     LIFE.  273 

differences  of  power  and  function.  But  the  love 
of  the  human  race  is  increased  by  their  indi- 
vidual differences,  and  the  unity  of  the  creature 
made  perfect  by  each  having  something  to 
bestow  and  to  receive  ;  bound  to  the  rest  by  a 
thousand  various  necessities  and  various  grati- 
tudes, humility  in  each  rejoicing  to  admire  in  his 
fellow  that  which  he  finds  not  in  himself,  and 
each  being  in  some  respect  the  complement  of 
his  race. — Ruskin. 

THE   BEAUTIFUL   IN  THE   GOOD. 
There  is  not  any  virtue  the  exercise  of  which, 
even  momentarily,  will  not  impress  a  new  fair- 
ness on  the  features. — Ruskin. 

SPIRITUAL  BEAUTY. 
There  is  a  certain  period  of  the  soul-culture 
when  it  begins  to  interfere  with  some  of  the 
characters  of  typical  beauty  belonging  to  the 
bodily  frame,  the  stirring  of  the  intellect  wear- 
ing down  the  flesh,  and  the  moral  enthusiasm 
burning  its  way  out  to  heaven,  through  the 
emaciation  of  the  earthen  vessel  ;  and  there  is, 
in  this  indication  of  subduing  the  mortal  by  the 
13 


274  THE     EVENING     OF     LIFE. 

immortal  part,  an  ideal  glory  of  perhaps  a  purer 
and  higher  range  than  that  of  the  more  perfect 
material  form.  We  conceive,  I  think,  more 
nobly  of  the  weak  presence  of  Paul,  than  of  the 
fair  and  ruddy  countenance  of  David. — Ruskin. 

VANITY    OF   LIFE. 

I  HAVE  seen  all  that  society  can  show,  and 
enjoyed  all  that  wealth  can  give  me,  and  I  am 
satisfied  that  much  is  vanity,  if  not  vexation  of 
spirit. —  Walter  Scott, 

SONG  OF  THE  AGED. 

**  Now,  also,  when  I  am  old  and  gray-headed,  0  God,  forsake  me 
not  ;  until  I  have  showed  thy  strength  unto  this  generation,  and  thy 
power  to  every  one  that  is  to  come." — Ps.  Ixxi.  18. 

With  years  oppressed,  with  sorrows  worn. 
Dejected,  harassed,  sick,  forlorn, 

To  thee,  0  Grod,  I  pray ; 
To  thee  my  withered  hands  arise ; 
To  thee  I  lift  my  failing  eyes ; 

O,  cast  me  not  away  ! 

Thy  mercy  heard  my  infant  prayer ; 
Thy  love,  with  all  a  mother's  care, 
Sustained  my  childish  days  ; 


THE     EVENING     OF     LIFE.  275 

Thy  goodness  watched  my  ripening  youth, 
And  formed  my  heart  to  love  thy  truth, 
And  filled  my  lips  with  praise. 

0,  Saviour  !  has  thy  grace  declined  ? 
Can  years  affect  the  Eternal  mind, 

Or  time  its  love  decay  ? 
A  thousand  ages  pass  thy  sight, 
And  all  their  long  and  weary  flight 

Is  gone  like  yesterday. 

Then,  even  in  age  and  grief,  thy  name 
Shall  still  my  languid  heart  inflame. 

And  bow  my  faltering  knee ; 
O,  yet  this  bosom  feels  the  fire ; 
This  trembling  hand  and  drooping  lyre 

Have  yet  a  strain  for  thee. 

Yes,  broken,  tuneless,  still,  0  Lord, 
This  voice,  transported,  shall  record 

Thy  goodness,  tried  so  long. 
Till,  sinking  slow,  with  calm  decay, 
Its  feeble  murmurs  melt  away 

Into  a  seraph's  song. — Grant. 

DEATH   OP  JOHN   FOSTER. 

The  substantial  peace  which  he  had  attained 
did  not  desert  him  in  his  dying  hours.  As  he 
felt   his   strength  gradually  stealing   away,   he 


276  THE     EVENING     OF     LIFE. 

remarked  on  his  increasing  weakness,  and  added, 
'  But  I  can  pray,  and  that  is  a  glorious  thing/' 
Truly  a  glorious  thing,  to  look  up  to  an  Omnip- 
otent Father  \  to  speak  to  him — to  love  him —  to 
stretch  upward  as  a  babe  from  the  cradle,  that 
he  may  lift  his  child  in  his  everlasting  arms  to 
the  resting-place  of  his  own  bosom.  This  is  the 
portion  of  the  dying  Christian.  He  was  over- 
heard thus  speaking  with  himself  :  "  '  0  death, 
where  is  thy  sting  ?  0  grave,  where  is  thy  vic- 
tory? Thanks  be  to  God,  who  giveth  us  the 
victory,  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.'  " 
— Bayne. 

I  AM   LIKE  A  BROKEN   VESSEL. 

PS.    XXXI.    12. 

Cast  as  a  broken  vessel  by, 

Thy  will  I  can  no  longer  do  ; 
Yet,  while  a  daily  death  I  die, 

Thy  power  I  may  in  weakness  show ; 
My  patience  may  thy  glory  raise, 
My  speechless  woe  proclaim  thy  praise. 

Mrs.  Steele, 

AGED   BELIEVERS. 
AaED  and  mellow  saints  have  so  sweet  a  savor 
of  Christ  in  them,  that  their  conversation  is  like 


THE     EVENING     OF     LIFE.  277 

streams  from  Lebanon,  sweetly  refreshing  to  him 
who  delights  to  hear  of  the  glories  of  redeeming 
love.  They  have  tried  the  anchor  in  the  hour 
of  storm,  they  have  tested  the  armor  in  the 
day  of  battle,  they  have  proved  the  shadow  of 
the  great  rock  in  the  burning  noontide  in  the 
weary  land  ;  therefore  do  they  talk  of  those 
things,  and  of  Him  who  is  all  these  unto  them, 
with  an  unction  and  a  relish  which  we  who  have 
but  just  put  on  our  harness  can  enjoy,  although 
we  cannot  attain  unto  it  at  present.  We  must 
dive  into  the  same  waters,  if  we  would  bring  up 
the  same  pearls. — Sptcrgeon. 

THE  DEATH   OF   A   CHRISTIAN   MERCHANT, 
SAMUEL    BUDOETT. 

I  LIKE  to  hear  of  the  beauties  of  heaven,  but 
I  do  not  dwell  upon  them.  No,  what  I  rejoice 
in  is,  that  Christ  will  be  there.  Where  He  is, 
there  shall  I  be  also.  I  know  that  He  is  in  me, 
and  I  in  Him.  I  shall  see  Him  as  He  is.  I 
delight  in  knowing  that. 

I  have  sunk  into  the  arms  of  Omnipotent 
love.  I  am  going  the  way  of  all  flesh ;  but, 
bless  God,  I'm  ready.     I  trust  in  the  merits  of 


278  THE     EVENING     OF     LIFE. 

my  Redeemer.     I  care  not  when,  or  where,  oi 
how  ;  glory  be  to  God  ! — Bayne. 

THE  BORDER-LAND. 

Father,  into  thy  loving  hands 

My  feeble  spirit  I  commit, 
While  wandering  in  these  Border-lands, 

Until  thy  voice  shall  summon  it. 

Father,  I  would  not  dare  to  choose 
A  longer  life,  an  earlier  death ; 

I  know  not  what  my  soul  might  lose 
By  shortened  or  protracted  breath. 

These  Border-lands  are  calm  and  still, 
And  solemn  are  their  silent  shades ; 

And  my  heart  welcomes  them,  until 
The  light  of  life's  long  evening  fades. 

I  heard  them  spoken  of  with  dread, 

As  fearful  and  unquiet  places ; 
Shades  where  the  living  and  the  dead 

Look  sadly  in  each  other's  faces ; 

But  since  thy  hand  hath  led  me  here, 
And  I  have  seen  the  Border-land, — 

Seen  the  dark  river  flowing  near, 

Stood  on  its  brink,  as  now  I  stand, — 


THE     EVENING     OF     LIFE.  279 

There  has  been  nothing  to  alarm 

Mj  trembling  soul ;  how  could  I  fear 

While  thus  encircled  with  thine  arm? — 
I  never  felt  thee  half  so  near ! 

What  should  appall  me  in  a  place 
That  brings  me  hourly  nearer  thee  ? 

Where  I  may  almost  see  thy  face, — 
Surely  'tis  here  my  soul  would  be! 

They  say  thy  waves  are  dark  and  deep, — 
That  Faith  hath  perished  in  the  river  ; 

They  speak  of  death  with  fear,  and  weep  ; 
Shall  my  soul  perish  ? — Never,  never ! 

I  know  that  thou  wilt  never  leave 
The  soul  that  trembles  while  it  clings 

To  thee ;  I  know  thou  wilt  achieve 
Its  passage  on  thine  outstretched  wings 

I  cannot  see  the  golden  gate 

Unfolding  yet  to  welcome  me ; 
I  cannot  yet  anticipate 

The  joy  of  heaven's  jubilee ; 

But  I  will  calmly  watch  and  pray, 

Until  I  hear  my  Saviour's  voice 
Calling  my  happy  soul  away. 

To  see  his  glory,  and  rejoice. 


280  THE     EVENING     OF     LIFE. 

A   PARTING   WORD. 

"  The  Eternal  God  is  thy  refuge,  and  underneath  are  the  Everlast- 
ing arms." 

What  more  can  you  desire,  afflicted  believer? 
No  frail  and  crumbling  tabernacle,  no  mere 
human  friend,  is  declared  to  be  thy  refuge.  It 
is  none  other  than  the  Eternal  God,  who  is  from 
everlasting  to  everlasting,  the  same  yesterday, 
to-day,  and  fbrever.  It  is  He  who  invites  you 
to  run  into  his  arms,  and  be  forever  safe. 

But  do  you  say,  I  am  so  feeble,  so  utterly 
without  strength,  that  I  cannot  run  to  him,  or 
make  any  movement  toward  him  ?  Then  see, 
further,  how  h^  has  provided  for  you.  ''  Under- 
neath you  are  the  everlasting  arms."  All  you 
need  to  do  is  just  to  yield  yourself  up  to  be  sus- 
tained by  those  arms.  Sink  into  them  ;  they 
are  already  beneath  you — they  even  now  sup- 
port you.  Let  childlike  faith  banish  your  fears  ; 
rest  you  in  the  arms  of  the  Eternal  God.  Lie 
there  as  a  child,  in  your  Father's  loving,  all- 
encompassing  embrace.  Those  *' arms''  cannot 
be  palsied  or  too  heavily  burdened,  and  so  let 
go  their  hold;  they  are  "everlasting."  They 
bear  up  the  universe  ;  surely,  they  can  sustain 


THE     EVENING     OF     LIFE.  281 

you.  Millions  have  there  found  a  blessed,  an 
unfailing  refuge  and  rest.  Believe  their  testi- 
mony— rather,  believe  God's  own  word  of 
promise.  There  you  are,  0  tried  believer  ! 
those  everlasting  arms  are  underneath  you, 
though  sometimes  you  see  them  not.  There  we 
leave  you. — Farewell  ! 


Tommy's  Prayer, 
ifj^  UmXG  the  years  I  was  at  work  in 
mJ  the  slums  of  southeast  London,  writes 
Philip  I.  Roberts,  the  following  example 
of  a  simple  faith  came  to  my  knowledge: 
A  poor  little  slum  child  of  about  eleve:i 
developed  a  malady  which  demanded  ivi 
Instant  operation.  He  was  taken  to  Guy  s 
Hospital,  where  the  great  doctor  who  ex- 
amined him  had  to  tell  him  that  there  wa.^ 
ju      a  fighting  chance  for  his  life. 

The  seats  of  the  operating  theatre,  ris- 
ing tier  above  tier  like  the  gallery  of  a 
church,  were  filled  with  long  rows  of  stu- 
dents who  had  come  to  witness  the  great- 
est surgeon  of  his  time  use  the  knife.  The 
little  patient  was  brought  in  and,  durii'^c 
some  preliminaries,  placed  in  a  cushionsd 

chair.  Looking  around  at  the  great  throng 
of  men,  he  said  timidly  to  one  of  the  as- 
sistant doctors:  "Please,  sir,  I  should  u-^ 
very  glad  if  one  of  you  gentlemen  would 
say  just  a  little  prayer  for  me." 

There  was  a  profound  silence.  Nobody 
moved,  so  the  little  slum  child  knelt  down 
and  said :  "Dear  Jesus,  I'm  only  a  poor, 
weak,  little  lad,  but,  please,  I'd  like  to 
live.  So,  dear  Jesus,  please  help  this  kind 
gentleman,  so  that  he  shall  do  his  wovU' 
right.  Amen."  Having  said  that,  the  boy 
climbed  on  the  table  and  lay  back  with 
a  smile  lighting  up  his  face. 

The  great  surgeon  stood  at  the  head  oi 
the  table,  fully  aware  that  he  was  about 
to  perform  an  operation  that  would  test 
his  skill  to  the  utmost.  For  a  moment 
or  so  he  was  visibly  agitated.  The  stu- 
dents exchanged  glances.  Never  had  they 
seen  their  chief  unnerved  before,  and  this 
condition  now  augured  but  ill  for  the  lif3 
of  the  waif.  Yet  as  he  looked  on  the  still 
moving  lips  of  the  prostrate  boy,  a  greai: 
calm  sto-le  over  the  doctor.  He  commenced 
to  o])erate,  and  immediately  realized  that 
the  slum  child's  prayer  was  being  answered. 
Coolness  of  head,  steadiness  of  hand  and 
delicacy  of  touch  all  came  as  they  were 
needed.  The  boy's  life  hung  on  a  meca 
thread,  but  the  skillful  surgeon  did  njt 
snap  it. 


Aext  morninj?  the  surgeon  stood  in  the 
ward  by  the  bedside  of  his  little  patient 
Taking  his  hand  he  said:  "Well,  Tommv, 
Jesus  heard  your  prayer  yesterday."  \\ 
confident  smile  lit  up  the  boy's  face  as 
he  answered:  "I  knew  He  would."  Then 
his  features  cloudeil  over,  and  he  said: 
"You  were  very  good  to  me,  too,  doctor! 
And  I  have  nothing  to  give— nothing  at 
all."  Then  a  happy  thought  came  to  him 
and  his  face  lit  up  again,  and  he  whis- 
pered :  "But  I  can  keep  on  praying  to  Jesus 
for  you,  can't  I?"  A  great  lump  came  in/o 
the  doctor's  throat.  "That  you  can,"  n.-- 
answered  huskily,  "and  that  will  be  better 
than  any  sort  of  money,  for  God  knows 
I  need  the  prayers  of  one  like  you  !"— 
Presbyterian  Banner. 

I  think  that  is  true  in  so  far  as  the  love 
deepens  and  enriches  our  spiritual  life.  In 
regard  to  unanswered  prayer  a  beautiful 
thought  is  expressed  in  a  favorite  hymn  of 
mine  : 

Unanswered    yet?     The    prayer    your    lips   have 

In  agony  of  heart  these  many  years'' 
Does  faith  begin  to  fail .'  is  hope  departing-  *> 

And  thiul<  you  all  in  vain  those  falling  fears  *> 
Ray  not  the  Father  hath  not  heard  your  prayer  • 
You  shall  have  your  desire  some  tlnie,  somewhere. 

Unanswered  yet  ?  tho'  when  vou  first  presented 
This  one  petition  at  the  Father's  throne 

It  seemed  you  could  not  wait  the  time  of  asking 
So  urgent  was  your  heart  to  make  it  known  • 

Tho'  years  have  passed  since  then,  do  not  despair 

Ihe  Lord  will  answer  you  sometime,  somewhere. 

Unanswered  yet?  Faith  cannot  be  unanswered  • 
Her  feet  are  firmly  planted  on  the  Rock. 

Amid  the  wildest  storms  she  stands  undaunted 
Nor  quails  before  the  loudest  thunder-shock. 

She  knows  Omnipotence  ffis  heard  her  prayer 


And  criet 


It  shall  be  dfne  "  sometime,  somewhere. 
HOPEFUL. 


43 


GOD  b:^  with  you. 

God   be  with   you  till  we  meet 
again, 
By  his  counsels  guide,  uphold 

you, 
With   his  sheep  securely  fold 
you, 
God  be  with  you  till   we   meet 
again . 

CHORUS. 

Till  we  meet,  till  we  meet. 
Till  we  meet  at  Jesus'  feet ; 
Till  we  meet,  till  we  meet, 
God  be  with  you  till  we  meet 
again. 

God   be  with  you  till   we  meet 
again,  ^ 
'Neath  his  wings  securely  hide 
you  ; 


Daily  manna  still  provide  you, 
God   be  with  you  till  we  meet 
again. 

God  be  with  you  till   we  m^eet 
again, 
When   life's  perils  thick  con- 
found you  ; 
Put  his  loving  around  you, 
God   be  with  you  till  we  meet 
again. 

God   be  with  you  till  we  meet 
again, 
Keep    love's    banner    floating 

o'er  you, 
Smite  death  s  threat 'ning  wave 
before  vou, 
God  be  with  you  till  we   meet 
again. 

Copyright  from  Living  Hymns,  by  permission. 


At  the  Thanksgiving  Fire. 


We  are  all  here  ! 
Father,  mother, 
Sister,  brother, 
All  who  hold  each  other  dear  ; 
Each  chair  is  filled,  we're  all  at  home. 
To-night  let  no  dissension  come  ; 
It  is  not  often  thus  around 
Our  old  familiar  hearth  we're  found. 
Bless,  then,  the  meeting  and  the  spot ; 
For  once  be  every  care  forgot ; 
Let  gentle  peace  assert  her  power, 
And  kind  affection  rule  the  hour. 
We're  all,  all  here  ! 

-CHARLES  SPRAGUE. 


'^ 


last  words  to  her : 

"Keep  the  memory  sacred  ot  her  prayer 
for  you,  and  read  her  Book ;"  and  thus  ihe 
prayer  was  answered. 

"Uplands/'  the  beautiful  home  became 
more  beautiful— consecrated  to  the  service 
of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  There,  many 
weary  ones  found  rest;  wanderers  were  re- 
claimed; and  sinners  learned  of  Him  who 
'taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world."  Ger- 
trude Burleigh  never  forgot  that  evening 
after  the  storm,  when,  seized  with  fear,  her 
father  recalled  a  gracious  memory  which 
revealed  a  Saviour  through  the  world  of 
God,  according  to  her  mother's  words  and 
prayer. 

Unanswered  yet,  the  prayer  youi-  lips  have 
pleaded, 
In  agony  of  heart  these  many  years? 
Does  faith  begin  to  fail ;  is  hope  departing, 
And  think  you  all  in  vain  those  falling 
tears? 
Say   not   the  Father   had   not   heard   your 

prayer ; 
You  shall  have  your  desire  some  time,  some- 
where. 

— London    Christian, 


The   Value   of   Kind   Words 


To  THE  Home  Circle:  Kind  words  will 
live  in  our  minds  while  life  shall  last.  How 
sweet  is  the  memory  of  the  kind  words 
spoken  by  friends  now  far  from  us.  They 
help  cheer  us  on  life's  way.  If  we  are  rich 
or  poor  we  can  speak  kind  words  to  make 
the  road  onward  brighter.  I  never  have 
known  any  good  to  come  from  unkind  words. 

Then  let  us  all  speak  kind  words — the  old 
and  the  young.  In  that  way  we  will  ac- 
complish much  good,  and  help  the  world 
to  grow  better. 

Kind  words  and  thoughts  that  come  from 
the  heart  are  sweeter  than  music  to  one, 
and  I  am  sure  they  are  to  others. 

We  have  the  opportunity  almost  every 
day  to  speak  a  kind  word  to  someone. 
Our  next  door  neighbor  may  need  a  kind 
word  of  cheer.  The  student  may  need  a 
word  of  encouragement  or  help.  It  is  a 
great  thought  for  young  people  to  start 
out  in  life  with  a  determination  to  live  a 
useful  life.  -  They  will  succeed  if  they 
have  a  pleasant  face  and  a  kind  word  for 
everyone.  Mrs.    Lucy   M.    Mellen. 


Testimony  and  Petition 


Deab  Praying  Ones:  I  wish  to  ask  the 
brothers  and  sisters  of  the  iiux  j  Circle  to 
pray  earnestly  that  I  may  receive  health 
and  strength,  both  spiritually  and  physical- 
ly. Also  that  another  thing  which 
bothers  me  greatly  may  never  come  to  pass. 
Please  pray  that  the  Lord  will  guide  and  <tt> 


The  liiifht. 

"They  looked  unto   Him   and    were    lighted,"— 
Psalms  34:  5, 

A  child  that's  groping  in  the  night, 

Nor  knows  the  way 
But  yearning,  longing,  f  o^  the  light 

To  bring  the  day— 
So  gropes  my  life,  dear  Lord,  for  thine  own  place; 
So  longs  my  soul  to  see  the  shining  of  thy  face 

Lead  me,  O  Father,  merciful  and  kind, 

In  thine  own  way. 
I  am  thy  child,  and  tho'  my  eyes  are  blind, 

Be  ITiou  the  Ray, 
Lighting  me  onward  from  Earth's  night  of  gloom 
To  the  full  glory  of  thy  heavenly  home. 

r.  B.  D. 

"Rock  of  Ages,  Cleft  for  Me.'* 


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